Niagara Purple Eagles softball

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Niagara Purple Eagles
Initials niagara univ.svg
University Niagara University
Head coachLarry Puzan (11th season)
Conference MAAC
Location Lewiston, NY
Home stadiumNiagara Softball Field
Nickname Purple Eagles
ColorsPurple and white [1]
   
NCAA Tournament appearances
1998
Conference tournament championships
1998

The Niagara Purple Eagles softball team represents Niagara University in the NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Purple Eagles are currently led by head coach Larry Puzan. The team plays its home games at Niagara Softball Field located on the university's campus. [2]

Contents

History

Since joining the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 1990, Niagara has failed to win a conference regular season title but have managed to finish second three times, doing so in 1996, 1997, and 2008. [3] The Purple Eagles have been largely unsuccessful since establishing a team in 1981. Niagara has posted a winning season only seven times in 41 years, six of those with former coach Al Dirschberger. [4] The most recent winning season came in 2009. They have, however, managed to win a conference tournament title, doing so in 1998. In doing so, Niagara earned a berth in the 1998 NCAA Division I softball tournament. [5]

The Purple Eagles, led by stars Joni Sontrop and Kelly Cruttenden, [6] faced off against Arizona in their first career NCAA tournament appearance, losing 14-0 via mercy rule in five innings. [7] [5] Niagara were eliminated in their second and final game of the tournament, losing 5-1 to Hawaii. [8] [5]

Former head coach Al Dirschberger was convicted of raping a 28 year old woman in 2017 and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. He was released in 2023 and will be under probation for ten years. [9] [10] [11]

Coaching history

YearsCoachRecord%
1981–1982Bill Gould17–19.472
1983–1987Beth Corcoran46–58–2.443
1988–1989Beth Bullock16–39–2.298
1990Gerilyn Proto7–21.250
1991–2012Al Dirschberger345–488.414
2013Ellie Chan16–30.348
2014–presentLarry Puzan133–290.314

Roster

2024 Niagara Purple Eagles roster
 

Pitchers

  • 16 – Maddie Hickingbottom – Graduate Student
  • 19 – Cara Leone – Graduate Student
  • 52 – Sage Jackson – Junior

Catchers

  • 00 – Jolyn Gibbons – Sophomore
  • 24 – Maggie Kellner – Senior
  • 44 – Sophia Marrero – Sophomore

Outfielders

  • 9 – Samantha Hare – Senior
  • 29 – Madison LaPenta – Junior
  • – Samantha Miller – Graduate Student
  • 22 – Jaden Swiatek – Senior
 

Infielders

  • 12 – Hailey Cenname – Sophomore
  • – Brianna Delaney – Freshman
  • – Natasha Limbani – Freshman
  • 99 – Bayleigh McCullough – Junior
  • 20 – Hannah Mingle – Junior
  • – Selah Moyer – Freshman
  • 77 – Shayna Myshrall – Graduate Student
  • 8 – Payton Rano – Sophomore
  • 42 – Julia Thompson – Graduate Student

Utility

  • 7 – Kaylee Haines – Sophomore
  • – Kira Kilonsky – Freshman
  • 5 – Lindsay Mayo – Junior
 
Reference: [12]

Season by season results

Statistics overview
SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Niagara Purple Eagles (America East Conference)(1981–1989)
1981Bill Gould 7–9
1982Bill Gould 10–10
1983Beth Corcoran 10–12
1984Beth Corcoran 13–5
1985Beth Corcoran 8–9–1
1986Beth Corcoran 11–18–1
1987Beth Corcoran 4–14
1988Beth Bullock 5–24–2
1989Beth Bullock 11–15
Niagara Purple Eagles (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)(1990–present)
1990Gerilyn Proto 7–21N/A8th
1991Al Dirschberger 4–201–95th
1992Al Dirschberger 5–190–55th
1993Al Dirschberger 4–321–95th
1994Al Dirschberger 10–184–8N/A
1995Al Dirschberger 15–194–8N/A
1996Al Dirschberger 17–177–52nd
1997Al Dirschberger 23–158–42nd
1998Al Dirschberger 22–1910–63rd NCAA Regionals
1999Al Dirschberger 10–237–95th
2000Al Dirschberger 22–1510–63rd
2001Al Dirschberger 12–207–97th
2002Al Dirschberger 8–323–139th
2003Al Dirschberger 7–276–106th
2004Al Dirschberger 20–268–86th
2005Al Dirschberger 12–292–139th
2006Al Dirschberger 24–236–106th
2007Al Dirschberger 18–2010–63rd
2008Al Dirschberger 27–2113–32nd
2009Al Dirschberger 30–199–73rd
2010Al Dirschberger 22–229–73rd
2011Al Dirschberger 18–226–107th
2012Al Dirschberger 15–307–97th
2013Ellie Chan 16–309–74th
2014Larry Puzan 18–308–127th
2015Larry Puzan 4–404–1610th
2016Larry Puzan 10–388–128th
2017Larry Puzan 19–2610–107th
2018Larry Puzan 16–338–128th
2019Larry Puzan 18–3211–95th
2020Larry Puzan 3–70–0N/A

Season cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic

2021Larry Puzan 11–1911–199th
2022Larry Puzan 14–268–129th
2023Larry Puzan 9–343–1711th
Total:571–959–4 (.374)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

As of April 10, 2023. [3] [13] [14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Niagara University Athletic Department Quick Facts". August 2, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Niagara Softball Field". PurpleEagles.com. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  3. 1 2 "Softball Records (PDF)" (PDF). Niagara University Athletics.
  4. ↑ Bronstein, Jonah. "Niagara's interim softball coach has turned program around". Buffalo News.
  5. 1 2 3 "1998 NCAA Women's College World Series". Softball History USA. December 3, 2020.
  6. ↑ "NIAGARA PAIR EARNS MAAC SOFTBALL HONORS". Buffalo News.
  7. ↑ "NIAGARA TO FACE ARIZONA IN SOFTBALL". Buffalo News.
  8. ↑ "20th Anniversary Of MAAC Softball Championship To Be Celebrated May 5". Niagara University Athletics.
  9. ↑ "Former Erie County Social Services chief sentenced for raping employee". wgrz.com. April 12, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Former Erie County Social Services chief released from prison after 4 years". wgrz.com. June 10, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Former Division I head coach Dirschberger sentenced to prison". April 22, 2019.
  12. ↑ "2024 Softball Roster". Niagara University Athletics.
  13. ↑ "2023 Softball Schedule". Niagara University Athletics.
  14. ↑ "Softball Standings 1986-2022". maacsports.com.
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