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CLEARWATER, FL - The University at Buffalo softball team dropped two close decisions to BIG EAST opponents in championship bracket play to conclude the 25-team, four-day Speedline Classic, hosted by the University of South Florida. The Bulls dropped a 1-0 decision to Pittsburgh on Saturday before losing to Villanova by a 3-0 score in their finale on Sunday.

Stacey Evans

The Panthers (7-13) scored the lone run in the game on a solo home run by Sheena Hellon in the top of the fourth inning. Pittsburgh pitcher Christa Hunter allowed just three hits and struck out three for the complete-game victory Buffalo senior Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad) suffered the loss despite also allowing just three hits in seven innings and tying her career high with 12 strikeouts. Senior Melissa Pace (Long Beach, CA/Millikan) went 2-for-3 and freshman Laura Kor (Beaverton, OR/Westview) went 1-for-3 to account for the Bulls' three hits.

With the win, Pittsburgh advanced in the bracket but had to forfeit its place to Buffalo because of travel arrangements, so the Bulls went on to face Villanova. The Wildcats (17-9) scored once in the first, on an RBI-single by Lisa Krueger, once in the second, on an RBI-single by Sheri Donley, and once in the fifth, on an RBI-single by Kari Koller, to earn the 3-0 shutout. Kor, sophomore Mary Russell (Apalachin, NY/Owego Free Academy) and freshman Marcy Hansen (Claremont, CA/Claremont) each singled in the game for the Bulls' only three hits. Villanova pitcher Shannon Williams struck out 10 in six innings for the win while Kat Walsh was credited with the save. Buffalo sophomore Sophie Barstad (Canby, OR/Canby) went the distance for the Bulls, allowing six hits and two earned runs and striking out three.

The Bulls (3-13) will remain in Florida this week for Spring Break. They are scheduled to play a doubleheader at South Florida on Wednesday before participating in the Bethune-Cookman Tournament this weekend. The Bulls will take on Bethune-Cookman and Elon on Friday, Connecticut and Fordham on Saturday and Texas-El Paso on Sunday.