UB Softball Weekly Release

Bulls Host Syracuse in 2009 Home Opener

The University at Buffalo softball team played their 2009 home opener in a doubleheader against Syracuse last Tuesday afternoon at Nan Harvey Field. The Bulls defeated the Orange, 5-3, in the opening game, but lost game two in extra innings, 6-2.

Terese Diaz

Bulls Split with Syracuse

In the first game, Syracuse scored first, earning one run in the first, second and third innings to go up early, but Buffalo had their own spurt of scoring in the bottom of the third inning, scoring four runs of their own to take the lead. With two outs and the bases loaded, Kristin Waldron was hit by a pitch to send home the first Buffalo run. Dana Carter singled and advanced to second on the throw home, earning two RBIs to tie the game. Sharon Barr singled to send the fourth run home. UB scored an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to seal the win. Barr started on the mound for Buffalo, but was replaced by Terese Diaz. Diaz held the Orange to two hits, zero runs and struck out five batters to earn her ninth win of the season

In the nightcap, Syracuse opened the scoring with a run in the top of the second. The Bulls had a defensively solid fourth inning to hold the Orange to a one-run lead as Kristen Gallipani caught a fly out against the fence and Alex Bejarano slid to catch a pop out at shortstop to prevent a Syracuse score. UB scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. With Erin Zilka on base, Waldron hit a triple down the left field line to score Zilka. Barr and Diaz both walked to load the bases and Jamie Sheffler walked to advance the run home for the lead. Syracuse would score again in the top of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. In the eighth inning, the Orange scored four runs to take the game away from the Bulls.

Bulls Open MAC Play Against Kent State

The Bulls played a two-game series at Kent State to open MAC play last weekend. On Saturday, Diaz started on the mound for the Bulls, but was relieved by Barr partway through the third inning. With Barr on the mound, UB held Kent State to one hit and no runs, striking out three batters. The Bulls kept the game close, battling through two and a half scoreless innings before Kent State saw a spurt of scoring. The Golden Flashes pulled ahead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Kent State’s Leah Archual homered to right field sending two runs home. That was the only score of the game, as the Bulls could not string together a series of hits and therefore were unable to produce a run in the game. Candice Sheehan and Waldron each had hits for Buffalo.

Erin Zilka

In Sunday’s game, neither team scored for the first two and a half innings, but Kent State went on a nine run scoring spree in the bottom of the third, scoring nine runs off seven hits. The Bulls scored their only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning as Zilka doubled to left center and scored off an RBI single from Waldron, but the deficit was too much. Zilka went one for one on the day with a run scored and Waldron went one for two with an RBI.

Next Up

Buffalo will return to action on Wednesday, April 1 with a doubleheader against local rival Canisius. First pitch is set for 3 pm at Canisius’ Demske Sports Complex. UB will then hit the road for another MAC series next weekend where they will take on Ball State for a Friday doubleheader and then head to Miami for a Saturday-Sunday series.