SOFTBALL

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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo softball team concluded its three-game series with the visiting Akron Zips on Sunday afternoon at Nan Harvey Field. The Zips (18-16, 2-8 Mid-American Conference) overcame a 1-0 deficit and broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run sixth inning to earn a 3-1 win over the Bulls and avoid a series sweep. With the loss, the Bulls are now 9-22 overall and 5-5 in the MAC.

Lauren Picciano

The Bulls opened the scoring with a two-out rally in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Julie Hibner (Salem, OR/South Salem) hit a single to center field, and sophomore Colleen Greene (Cheektowaga, NY/Cleveland Hill) followed with an infield single, beating out a grounder hit deep into the hole at short to keep the inning alive. Junior Lauren Picciano (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) then drove in Hibner with the game's first run with a double to right center. The run came after the Zips threatened early when leadoff hitter Sara Zilles started the game with a double to center field. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Rebecca Stern, but senior pitcher Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad) struck out Megan MacKenzie and freshman Marcy Hansen (Claremont, CA/Claremont) made a diving catch at second on a line drive by cleanup hitter Jaclyn Spirtos to end the inning.

Spirtos got revenge in her next at bat in the top of the fourth inning when she evened the score at 1-1 with a solo home run to center field. The top of the Zips' order then manufactured two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Zilles drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a groundout by Stern. MacKenzie then beat out a bunt single, moving Zilles to third with Spirtos stepping to the plate. Spirtos attempted a squeeze bunt to third, but freshman Kerry Cafazzo (Everett, MA/Everett) threw out Zilles at home for the second out of the inning. However, Akron's Kelly Quigley came to the plate next and hit a double down the right field line to score Paige Smith, MacKenzie's pinch runner, and Spirtos. Evans struck out Becky Santonastaso to end the inning, but the damage had been done. The Bulls got their leadoff hitter on base in both the sixth and seventh innings, but they couldn't move them around to really threaten.

Evans allowed four hits and struck out three in six innings before being replaced by sophomore Sophie Barstad (Canby, OR/Canby) to start the seventh. Akron pitcher Tina McCauley earned the win, allowing six hits and striking out four in the complete game.

The Bulls next host Canisius in a doubleheader on Monday at Nan Harvey Field. Game time has been moved up to 2 pm.