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Softball Puts Up Late Fight In Home Opener

Marcy Hansen

After surrendering five runs in the top of the second, Buffalo chipped away at the Orange, putting one on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Samantha Gaetano (Rochester, NY/Nazareth Academy) kicked off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a Marcy Hansen (Claremont, CA/Claremont) hit up the middle. Liz Hauke (Maine, NY/Seton Catholic) then loaded the bases with a single of her own and senior Colleen Greene (Cheektowaga, NY/Cleveland Hill) picked up an RBI, reaching on a fielder's choice to score Gaetano.

After Syracuse scored a run in the top half of the sixth, the Bulls were able to plate two more in the bottom half of the inning. Erin Zilka (Benicia, CA/Benicia) led off the inning with a long single and moved over when freshman pitcher Sharon Barr (Coarsegold, CA/Yosemite Union) drew a walk. Both runners then advanced on an infield groundout. Gaetano drew a walk to stud the bases and Hansen followed, roping a long single to pick up two RBIs and score both Zilka and Barr.

Erin Zilka

UB held the Orange scoreless in the top of the seventh and unleashed at the plate in the later half of the inning with a late game rally. With one down, Lacy Schneider (Idyllwild, CA/Hemet) found her way to first on an error by the SU first baseman. Playing in her first UB softball game ever, newcomer Ashley Turner (Olean, NY/Olean) was then inserted to pinch run for Schneider. Zilka kept the Bulls’ chances alive, as the sophomore struck a double to score Turner all the way from first. Barr then singled to score Zilka. After a Buffalo out, Barr found her way to third on a Jenna Beall-Schwab (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) single. That was as close as the Bulls would get though, as the final Buffalo out came from the next batter.

As a team, the Bulls produced 10 hits, including a 3-for-4 performance from catcher Zilka. Hansen finished with two hits and two RBIs while Hauke, Greene, Barr, Beall-Schwab and Gaetano each finished with one hit each.

Sharon Barr

Barr was stellar on the mound for UB, pitching the complete game, allowing just two earned runs and only walking one.

Shorthanded this season due to five season-ending injuries, the Bulls welcomed the addition of three new players to its roster, including Turner, from the UB women’s soccer team, Beall-Schwab and Brandi Clark (Medicine Hat, Alberta/Medicine Hat) from the UB volleyball team.

Buffalo will return to action on Friday, as they continue Mid-American Conference competition with a doubleheader against Ohio. First pitch is set for 1:00 pm on Nan Harvey Field.