SOFTBALL

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BOWLING GREEN, KY – The University at Buffalo softball team began play at the three-day Western Kentucky Invitational Friday afternoon. The Bulls were shut out in their opening game by Indiana, 4-0, but then rebounded for a 2-1 win over the host Hilltoppers in their final game of the day. The Bulls are now 2-5 on the season.

Mary Russell

Indiana manufactured one run in the top of the first inning and then added insurance with a solo homer in the second by Rachel Terry and a two-run homer in the third by Tory Yamaguchi. The Bulls were held to just three hits in the game, a double by sophomore Mary Russell (Apalachin, NY/Owego Free Academy) and singles by freshmen Laura Kor (Beaverton, OR/Westview) and Marcy Hansen (Claremont, CA/Claremont). Indiana pitcher Megan Roark tied her career high with 13 strikeouts while pitching the complete-game shutout. Buffalo senior Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad) started on the mound for the Bulls and gave up six hits and three earned runs before being relieved by sophomore Sophie Barstad (Canby, OR/Canby). Barstad pitched four scoreless innings while allowing four hits and striking out two.

The Bulls rebounded for a 2-1 win over Western Kentucky in their second and final game of the day. Buffalo scored both of its runs in the top of the fifth inning, with senior Ann Magur (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott/Connecticut) and Russell picking up the RBIs. Both Magur and Russell finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the game. Kor, Hansen and freshman Lacy Schneider (Idyllwild, CA/Hemet) also had one hit apiece. The Hilltoppers threatened with a run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI-double by Renita Pennington, but the Bulls were able to hold on for the win behind the pitching of Barstad. She went the distance on the mound, allowing eight hits and striking out four.

The Bulls are scheduled to play Austin Peay at 4 pm and Tennessee-Martin at 8 pm on Saturday, followed by bracket play on Sunday.