SOFTBALL

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CHATTANOOGA, TN - The University at Buffalo softball team continued play at Tennessee-Chattanooga's Frost Classic today, dropping a 4-1 decision to Tennessee Tech before earning a 5-1 win over host Chattanooga in extra innings. The split gives the Bulls a 2-4 overall record on the season.

Julie Hibner

Tennessee Tech (4-4) scored two runs in the first inning and two runs in the third, on a two-run home run by Kacey Bennett, to jump out to a commanding 4-0 lead before the Bulls got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Junior Julie Hibner (Salem, OR/South Salem) hit an RBI-single that scored junior Jackie O'Brien (Selkirk, NY/Bethlehem Central). O'Brien was pinch-running for freshman Sophie Barstad (Canby, OR/Canby), who singled earlier in the inning. That was the only run the Bulls would get, however, as Tia Brenning finished the complete game on the mound allowing just three hits and striking out five. Senior Heather Robbins (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) took the loss for the Bulls, allowing four earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched before being relieved by junior Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad).

Sophie Barstad

The Bulls bounced back in their second game of the day to take a 5-1 win over the host Mocs in extra innings. Junior Ann Magur (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott/Connecticut) led off the game with a walk, then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior Marce Ross (Innisfil, Ontario/St. Peter's) and scored the game's first run on a groundout by senior Breanne Nasti (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin). Tennessee-Chattanooga tied things up with a run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Bulls exploded for four runs in the top of the eighth to put the game out of reach. Barstad had the game-winning RBI with a single to left that drove in sophomore Lisa Wheat (Olympia, WA/Tumwater), and Nasti later hit a three-run home run that scored Barstad and Magur, who reached base on a double. Evans pitched the first five innings for the Bulls, allowing no runs and striking out seven batters. Barstad pitched the final three innings and got credit for the win. Lacy Swarthout took the loss on the mound for Tennessee-Chattanooga.

The Bulls finish the tournament with two games on Sunday, meeting North Texas at 10 am and Tennessee-Martin at 2:30 pm.