UB Softball Weekly Release

Bulls Hit the Road for a Pair of Doubleheaders

The University at Buffalo softball team traveled to Muncie, Indiana and Oxford, Ohio last weekend for a pair of doubleheaders against MAC rivals Ball State and Miami. The Bulls lost Friday’s games to Ball State, 4-2 and 5-2, but rebounded on Saturday to split with Miami, dropping the first game, 10-2, but coming back to win the second game, 2-1.

Ball State

In the first game, Ball State opened the scoring with a run in each of the first two innings to give the Cardinals an early lead. Buffalo put up a good defensive front in the bottom of the second as the Cardinals loaded the bases twice, but were held to just one run. In the top of third, Jaime Sheffler hit a solo homerun to put the Bulls within one run. Both teams were scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Bulls earned the tying run in the bottom of the sixth. Alex Bejarano doubled to the left center fence to start the inning off for UB. Erin Zilka walked, advancing Bejarano to second, setting up Kristin Waldron for an RBI double up the center to drive Bejarano home for the tying run. Ball State responded, scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth to give the Cardinals their first win of the day.

Jaime Sheffler

In game two, Ball State scored two runs in the first inning. The second and third innings were scoreless for both teams. Buffalo saw their first score in the fourth inning, as Waldron singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Terese Diaz singled to left field, earning the RBI as Waldron scored Buffalo’s first run. Ball State took advantage of Buffalo’s mistakes in the bottom of the sixth inning to score three runs. Despite an RBI double from Sheffler in the top of the seventh inning, Buffalo could not come up with the win as Ball State went on to earn their second victory of the day.

Bulls Rally Against RedHawks

In day two Miami took the early lead scoring a run in the first inning and two runs in the third inning, but Buffalo made a comeback in the top of the fourth scoring two runs of their own. Waldron singled to drive home the first run. With the bases loaded, Dana Carter hit an RBI single to advance Zilka home to bring the Bulls within one. Miami scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning off a Buffalo error. The Bulls let the game get away from them in the bottom of the fifth inning as the RedHawks went on to score six runs to finish off game one with a score of 10-2.

Erin Zilka

In the nightcap against Miami, Buffalo started the second game off strong with a perfectly placed solo homerun from Zilka in the top of the first. The Bulls kept the RedHawks scoreless for the first three innings, before Miami matched Buffalo’s score with a homerun of their own. The fifth and sixth innings were scoreless for both teams, setting up a dramatic seventh inning with the score tied at one. Diaz singled to the pitcher and Kristen Gallipani came in to pinch run at first base. Dominique Carcone singled to the catcher, advancing Gallipani to third. Carcone then stole second to put base runners at first and second. Bejarano reached on a fielder’s choice to advance Carcone to third, sending Gallipani sliding home for the winning run, as Miami was not able to come up with a run in the bottom of the seventh.

Sharon Barr pitched the first six innings, earning the win for UB, holding Miami to one run, while striking out three. Diaz was credited with the save, finishing up the game for Buffalo.

Next Up

Buffalo will return home for a four-game homestand against Akron and Ohio next weekend. The Bulls will play a doubleheader against Akron on Friday, April 10 at 1pm, and then single games against Ohio on Saturday, April 11 at 2pm and Sunday, April 12 at 1pm. All games will be played at Buffalo’s Nan Harvey Field.