SOFTBALL

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KENT, OH -After getting postponed due to weather over the weekend, the University at Buffalo and Kent State finally got a softball doubleheader in this afternoon at the KSU Softball Field. The Golden Flashes (15-13, 3-1 Mid-American Conference) took game one by a 1-0 score before the Bulls (7-21, 3-4 MAC) rebounded for a 6-4 win in game two to salvage a split.

Ann Magur

The opener turned out to be a pitchers' duel, with just six hits and one run scored between the two teams. The Golden Flashes took advantage of a Buffalo error to score the game's only run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Pitcher Brittney Robinson helped her own cause by hitting a one-out double to put herself in scoring position. SarahDurkalski followed with a pop out to center field, and Robinson came all the way around to score on a Buffalo throwing error. The Bulls left two runners on base in the top of the sixth and one runner on base in the top of the seventh, but Robinson held on for the 1-0 complete-game shutout, allowing four hits and striking out eight. Senior Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad) suffered the loss, despite giving up just two hits and no earned runs and striking out four. Senior Ann Magur (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott/Connecticut) was 2-for-3 while junior Lauren Picciano (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) and freshman Laura Kor (Beaverton, OR/Westview) each had one hit apiece.

Melissa Pace

Senior Melissa Pace (Long Beach, CA/Millikan) got the Bulls' offense going with a solo home run, the second of her career, in the top of the second inning to open the scoring in game two. The Golden Flashes took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning on RBI-singles by AshleyFairhurst and Ashley Ball. The Bulls then used a three-hit, four-run third inning to break the game open. Picciano led off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Marcy Hansen (Claremont, CA/Claremont), then stole third base and scored on a throwing error by KSU's catcher. Magur then walked and Kor singled to left, and freshman Lacy Schneider (Idyllwild, CA/Hemet) drove both of them in with a single up the middle. Schneider later scored on another Kent State error that allowed sophomore Colleen Greene (Cheektowaga, NY/Cleveland Hill) to reach base. The Golden Flashes threatened with two runs in the fourth inning on RBI-singles by Durkalski and JessicaToocheck, but the Bulls put another insurance run on the board in the top of the seventh on a solo home run by Magur for the 6-4 final. Sophomore pitcher Sophie Barstad (Canby, OR/Canby) allowed seven hits and struck out two in four innings for her fourth win of the season. Evans earned the save, pitching the final three scoreless innings and allowing one hit with three strikeouts. Robinson suffered the loss for Kent State despite pitching just 2.1 innings. She allowed two hits and four earned runs before being replaced by Erin Christopher. Christopher allowed five hits and one earned run and struck out seven in the final 4.2 innings.

Magur was a combined 3-for-6 with a home run, two runs scored and one RBI in the two games to lead the Bulls' offense. She has hit .700 (7-for-10) with six RBIs in her last three games.

The Bulls are scheduled to open the home portion of the 2005 slate with a doubleheader against local rival Canisius at 3 pm on Wednesday at Nan Harvey Field.