SOFTBALL

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Ann Magur

HONOLULU, HI - The University at Buffalo softball team split its two games on day two of the Malihini Tournament in Honolulu, HI on Friday afternoon, dropping its first game to UC-Riverside by a 3-2 score before rebounding for a 7-5 come-from-behind victory over Mid-American Conference foe Kent State. The Bulls are now 5-3 overall on the season and 2-1 at the tournament.

The Bulls opened the scoring in the top of the first inning against UC-Riverside when a single to left field by sophomore Ann Magur (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) scored juniors Allison Round (Markham, Ontario/Markham District) and Marce Ross (Innisfil, Ontario/St. Peter's). UCR tied the score in the bottom of the first inning, first win an RBI-double by Karli Burneleit and then with a sacrifice fly to center field by Melissa Sanchez. The Highlanders then put the game-winning run across the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning on another sacrifice fly, this time by Jessica Gonzalez, that scored Angie Castellanos from third base. Castellanos was pinch-running for Jessica Black who led off the seventh with an infield single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Castellanos then entered the game and advanced to third on a Buffalo throwing error. Sophomore pitcher Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad) suffered her first loss of the year on the mound, despite the unearned run in the seventh inning. She allowed just four hits and struck out one.

Kelly Malone

In the Bulls' second game of the day, Kent State's Megan McGaughney singled to lead off the second inning, then advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Rachel Testa to get the Golden Flashes on the board first. Buffalo senior Kelly Malone (Waterford, MI/Waterford Kettering) tied the score in the bottom of the second with her first home run of the season, a solo shot to left field with two outs. Kent State broke the game open in the fourth inning, scoring four runs on three hits to take a 5-1 lead. The Bulls, however, got six runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth to go back on top by a 7-5 score. A double by freshman Lauren Picciano (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) scored Ross, a wild pitch by KSU reliever Kate Leary scored Magur and sophomore Jackie O'Brien (Selkirk, NY/Bethlehem Central) doubled to left center to score Picciano. Infield singles by Evans, senior Jessica Kensy (Cheektowaga, NY/Maryvale) and Ross also drove in runs later in the inning. The Golden Flashes threatened when they got two runners on base in the fifth, but Evans was called in and struck out Marci Ridenbaugh to get the Bulls out of the inning. Evans then struck out six of the seven batters she faced in the sixth and seventh innings to end the game and earn her first save of the year. Junior Heather Robbins (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) was credited with the win, while Leary took the loss for the Golden Flashes.

The Bulls play two games on Saturday, against Boston College and Loyola Marymount at 3 pm and 9 pm Eastern time, respectively, before concluding the tournament on Sunday against the host Rainbow Wahine at 11 pm Eastern time.