ORLANDO, FL - After 14 years the University at Buffalo returned to the softball diamond starting the 2000 season with a pair of victories over St. Michael's College (9-4 and 13-1) on Friday and dropping a doubleheader to Villanova (10-0, 13-0) Saturday at Disney's World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

Freshman catcher Kelly Malone (Waterford, MI/Waterford Kettering) was the hitting star for the Bulls in Friday's openers against the Purple Knights. Malone homered in both contests, a three-run shot in the first game and a solo homer in the nightcap finishing the day with six runs batted in and four hits. Jessica Kensy (Cheektowaga, NY/Maryvale) picked up her first collegiate win for the Bulls in the opener while left-hander Andrea Sage (Depew, NY/Depew) gave up just a single run for the Bulls to complete the sweep.

On Saturday, the Bulls ran into a tough Villanova squad getting blanked by the Wildcats in both contests. The Bulls also produced little at the plate totaling just five hits in the two games with no player picking up more than one. Kensy and Sage absorbed the losses with each pitching now garnering 1-1 records on the mound.

The Bulls will continue their Florida schedule on Tuesday as they get their first taste of Mid-American Conference competition. UB faces Bowling Green at 6:00 p.m. immediately followed by a contest with Toledo at 8:30 p.m. The Bulls will play an independent schedule in 2000 before officially joining the MAC in 2001.