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Softball Suffers Setbacks at UTEP Invitational

Mary Russell

In the opening game, Northern Colorado got on the board in the bottom of the first, but the Bulls were able to fight back and eventually tied the game in the top of the second, as Mary Russell (Apalachin, NY/Owego Free Academy) connected for an RBI single to left-center to score freshman Katie Ivancich (Dyer, IN/Andrean). UB would later get on the board, scoring one run in the top of the third on an Erin Zilka (Benicia, CA/Benicia) RBI double and later scoring a duo of runs in the top of the fifth, as Russell drew a bases-loaded walk and Colleen Greene (Cheektowaga, NY/Cleveland Hill) inked a RBI with a single to centerfield.

Northern Colorado, however rallied back to place the game out of reach for Buffalo, as the Bears scored five runs – three unearned – in the bottom of the fifth. Northern Colorado then scored three more in the bottom of the sixth, stealing the 12-4 victory over the Bulls.

Colleen Greene

Despite the setback, Buffalo mounted a decent offensive attack, compiling eight hits in the game, led by Russell who had a great game, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs, one walk and two stolen bases. Sophomore Dana Carter (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) also had a solid outing, producing two hits and scoring two runs while classmate Zilka was 1-for-2 with a RBI.

Freshman Sharon Barr (Coarsegold, CA/Yosemite Union) took the loss on the mound for the Bulls, allowing 12 hits in 5.1 innings of work, with only seven of Northern Colorado’s 12 runs earned.

The nightcap provided a Bulls-Miners rematch with Buffalo looking to avenge a 5-0 loss to UTEP last weekend at the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, NM. Unfortunately, UB was unable to pull out a victory, falling to the Miners 21-1.

Dana Carter

UTEP struck early and often, as the Miners were already ahead 8-0 when the Bulls scored their first and only run of the game in the bottom of the second inning, as Ivancich drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a passed ball.

UTEP peppered 19 hits good for 21 runs off of the combination of starting pitcher Margo Schramm (Phoenix, AZ/Catalina Foothils/Iowa Lakes CC) and relievers Sophie Barstad (Canby, OR/Canby) and Barr. The Bulls gathered two hits as a team including one from Russell while Greene ended 1-for-2 with a walk.

With its duo of setbacks, Buffalo remains on the roam for its first victory of the 2007 spring season. The Bulls will continue competition at the UTEP Invitational on Saturday with the day’s first game set for 11 am against Wisconsin and a nightcap scheduled for 8 pm against Utah.