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HUNTINGTON, WV - The University at Buffalo softball team got off to a rocky start to the Mid-American Conference portion of their 2005 schedule, dropping both ends of an afternoon doubleheader at Marshall today, 4-1 and 4-0. The Bulls are now 4-19 overall and 0-2 in the MAC.

Mary Russell

The Thundering Herd (16-11, 2-0 MAC) got things started early in game one when Amanda Williams led off with a single to center, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jessica Williams and then scored on a Buffalo error on a fly ball by Rachel Folden. In the second inning, the Thundering Herd manufactured another run when Sara Spenia led off with a single and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Mitchell and another UB error. Spenia then scored on a single to right by Dee Tourville. The Bulls finally got on the board in the top of the third inning. Junior Lauren Picciano (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and then scored on a single by sophomore Mary Russell (Apalachin, NY/Owego Free Academy) for what would prove to be the Bulls' lone run of the day. The Thundering Herd added two more insurance runs in the sixth inning on a two-out, two-run double by Sam Rodriguez for the 4-1 final.

Marshall pitcher Randi Nielson allowed five hits and struck out four in the complete-game victory, while senior Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad) suffered the loss for the Bulls, allowing seven hits and three earned runs and striking out six.

In game two, the Thundering Herd scored all four of its runs on solo homers, by Amanda Williams in the first, Leigh Wintter and Gina Guzzo in the fourth and Folden in the sixth. Pitcher Abigail Harter did the rest, holding the Bulls to just one hit and striking out seven in the complete-game shutout. Sophomore pitcher Sophie Barstad (Canby, OR/Canby) struck out one and allowed six hits in the complete-game loss. Russell was 1-for-3 for the Bulls' lone hit in the game.

The Bulls and the Thundering Herd will conclude their three-game series with a 1 pm game on Saturday at Dot Hicks Field.