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SAN DIEGO, CA - The University at Buffalo team moved to 8-11 overall on the season with one win and two losses in the final two days of the San Diego Classic, co-hosted by San Diego and San Diego State. On Saturday, the Bulls fell to Southern Utah by a 4-3 score before rebounding for a 7-4 win over San Diego. On Sunday, Buffalo was shut out by San Diego State by a 6-0 score in its final game of the tournament.

Breanne Nasti

Doubles by senior Breanne Nasti (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) in the first inning and senior Marce Ross (Innisfil, Ontario/St. Peter's) in the second inning each drove in runs to give the Bulls an early 2-0 lead against Southern Utah. The Bulls went up 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth when a single by junior Ann Magur (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott/Connecticut) plated Ross before Southern Utah stormed back with one run in the sixth and three runs in the seventh to steal the victory. Three singles in the top of the seventh, including one by Jentry Johnson that drove in the game-tying and game-winning runs, led to the 4-3 final. Southern Utah pitcher Lacee LePrey struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win. She pitched the complete game and struck out eight, while sophomore Theresa Gugger (Binghamton, NY/Susquehanna Valley/Oneonta State) took the loss on the mound for the Bulls, allowing four runs in two innings after coming on in relieve of junior Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad).

The Bulls rebounded for a 7-4 win over host San Diego in Saturday's nightcap. The Bulls went up 3-0 after two innings, with a triple by Nasti and a groundout by Ross each driving in runs and Ross also scoring on a wild pitch. San Diego scored two runs in the bottom of the third, but the Bulls then put four runs across the plate in the fourth. Freshman Colleen Greene (Cheektowaga, NY/Cleveland Hill) scored on an error, junior Melissa Pace (Long Beach, CA/Millikan) and Nasti each drew bases-loaded walks, and sophomore Lisa Wheat (Olympia, WA/Tumwater) was hit by a pitch with bases loaded. San Diego scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on two infield singles, but the Bulls were able to hold on behind the pitching of Evans, who came on in relief in the seventh to earn her first save of the year. Freshman Sophie Barstad (Canby, OR/Canby) earned the win, striking out seven and allowing eight hits in six innings.

On Sunday, Buffalo was shut out by San Diego State by a 6-0 score. SDSU pitcher Celena Velasquez scattered five hits and struck out six in the complete-game victory, while Gugger suffered the loss for the Bulls. San Diego State scored four runs in the first inning and added single tallies in the fourth and fifth.

The Bulls have now concluded tournament play in the 2004 season. They face local rival Canisius College in a doubleheader at 2 pm on Thursday, March 25 at Canisius' Demske Sports Complex. Last season, the Bulls swept the Golden Griffins in a doubleheader on April 16, 9-1 and 6-4.