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Bulls Split At Speedline Invitational

In what was just the fifth game of the season for Dartmouth, the Big Green put forth a strong effort against Buffalo. The Bulls took an early lead in the contest, but couldn't hang on. Laura Kor (Beaverton, OR/Westview) hit a solo shot in the first inning and Erin Zilka (Benicia, CA/Benicia) hit one in the sixth, but that was it for Buffalo. Despite getting the loss, freshman Jennifer Biernacki (Medina, NY/Medina) pitched a complete game.

Sophie Barstad

Junior Sophie Barstad (Canby, OR/Canby) was the hero for the Bulls in the second game. Not only did Barstad finish as the winning pitcher, she also went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, including a two-run home run.

The Bulls took an early lead in the contest as freshman Zilka led the game off as she was hit by a pitch for the first of three times in the game. With two outs and Zilka on third base, Barstad hit a shot to dead center field, scoring two runs.

UB added another run in the third inning as Zilka reached base on a hit by pitch to begin the inning. She advanced to second on a single by Kor and then to third on a wild pitch. Sophomore Lacy Schneider (Idyllwild, CA/Hemet) singled to left center, scoring Zilka.

Erin Zilka

Buffalo then cracked the game wide open with a four-run fourth inning. Kerry Cafazzo (Evertt, MA/Everett) began the inning with a single to right field. She advanced to second base when Zilka was hit for the third time in the contest. Zilka was replaced by Lisa Wheat (Olympia, WA/Tumwater), who remained in the game. Sophomore Marcy Hansen (Claremont, Ca/Claremont) then walked to load the bases. With the bases juiced, the Fordham pitching staff walked Kor, bringing in another UB run. Barstad came up again with the bases loaded and hit a two-run single to right field. Schneider followed that with a one-run single, giving Buffalo a 7-0 advantage.

The Rams scored four runs in the fifth inning, but only one of those was earned. Barstad got her sixth win on the season as she pitched a complete game, allowing just four hits and striking out three.

All four teams in UB's bracket at the Speedline Classic are 1-1 after the first day and tomorrow's action will determine the seedings in the championship round.

UB looks for revenge against Illinois-Chicago tomorrow at 1:30 pm and then moves on to the championship round later on tomorrow evening. The championship round concludes on Sunday.