Siena Softball (14-8) continued to roll through conference play Tuesday afternoon, sweeping league foe Niagara (6-12) to begin a four-game mid-week series on the road. The Saints posted a dominant 10-2 win before carving out a 6-3 victory to win their third straight contest and 10^th in the last 11 games.
 
Game 1: Siena 10, Niagara 2
 
Traveling west to begin a stretch of 14 of their final 16 scheduled contests on the road, the Green and Gold played the Purple Eagles to two scoreless frames to start the day before getting on the board with a pair of RBI singles in the top of the third. Junior Yamila Evans shot an infield single to second that allowed classmate Sabrina Vargas to score, while sophomore Maritza Diaz shot a come backer up the middle to plate classmate Emma McLaughlin.
 
Niagara responded with two runs of its own to knot the game in the bottom of the fourth, with a two-run home run getting the job done. Sophomore right-hander Allison Speshyock took a three-inning no-decision in the circle, striking out one and allowing both runs on five hits.
 
With sophomore Nicole Patille (2-1) coming in for the final four innings and surrendering just two runs defensively while striking out one, Siena came alive offensively in the visiting half of the seventh, exploding for a season-high eight run frame to secure the win. The action began with Diaz once again singling up the middle to send in McLaughlin, while a double from sophomore Kaitlyn Davis sent in both Diaz and Evans.
 
The highlight of the day came from Vargas, who stepped up with the bases juiced and shot a ball to left field that bounced off the fence and into home run territory. The Oxnard, California native's first collegiate home run came in the form of a grand slam, sending around freshman Isabella Pardo, senior Neysa Ouellette, and Davis to score in Siena's first grand slam since April 30, 2017. The big-fly momentum carried over to the next batter, with senior Isabelle DeChiaro launching a dinger to center field for her third of the season to cap the scoring burst. Niagara's Riley Crum (5-4) took the complete game loss, allowing all 10 earned runs and striking out three.
 
Game 2: Siena 6, Niagara 3
 
As the snow began to fall in Niagara University, New York, Siena responded to the breakout offensive performance with more of the same in the second game. With right-hander Maddie McMahon taking the game into a scoreless fourth inning in the circle, the Saints found the board in the top of the frame, with DeChiaro coming home on a wild pitch and Diaz doubling to right field to score Evans. DeChiaro would give the Saints a three-run advantage with a single to right field that scored Pardo in the top of the fifth.
 
Niagara's comeback attempt began in the bottom of the frame, with an RBI single and an RBI double making it a one-run ballgame. The Saints once again used the long ball to secure the win, however, with Evans launching a solo shot to left for her second of the season, and sophomore Angelina Stile doing the same for her second homer of the season, sending in Diaz as well. Niagara had one more run in them in the form of an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, but the damage was done. McMahon (5-2) grabbed the win in four and two-thirds innings, allowing a pair of unearned runs while walking three and striking out seven. Senior Taylor Rhinehart struck out three in a pair of relief innings, while Patille came on with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to complete the sweep and ick u her fourth save of the year. Niagara's Julia Thompson (1-4) took the loss in four innings.
 
Due to snow in the forecast for Wednesday, the back half of the mid-week series between the Saints and the Purple Eagles has been Postponed to a further date. Siena will next gear up to travel to Manhattan for a four-game weekend affair.