The University at Buffalo softball team hosted MAC rivals Akron and Ohio last weekend. The Bulls dropped Friday’s doubleheaders to Akron, 3-0 and 8-1. Buffalo also fell to Ohio in a two-day series, losing Saturday’s match 6-5 and Sunday’s game, 4-2.

Bulls Drop Double Header

In the opener, Terese Diaz pitched the complete game for Buffalo, throwing seven scoreless innings, striking out five batters and giving up five hits. The contest was scoreless through the regulation seven innings before Akron scored three runs in the top of the eighth to take the win. Diaz and Kristin Waldron collected UB’s two hits in the game.

Terese Diaz

In game two, Sharon Barr started on the mound for the Bulls, but was relieved by Diaz part way through the sixth inning. With Akron leading 3-0, the Bulls pushed across a run in the bottom of the fifth as Waldron opened the inning on a base hit, stole second, and later scored when the Zips misplayed the ball. Buffalo let the game get away from them as Akron added five runs in the sixth for the 8-1 final score. Jaime Sheffler went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Bulls to lead a six-hit attack.

Late Comeback is Not Enough to Boost Bulls Over Bobcats

The Bulls lost a hard-fought game to Ohio, 6-5, on Saturday. UB jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third with RBIs from Sheffler and Diaz. However, Ohio took the lead in the sixth with a four-run inning. The Bulls put together a seventh-inning rally as Erin Zilka knocked in two runs but was stranded with the tying run to end the contest.

Bulls Fall to Ohio, 4-2

Kristin Waldron

On Sunday, UB fell to the Bobcats, 4-2, to complete the weekend series. After Ohio jumped out with two runs in the top of the first, the Bulls answered in the bottom half of the frame as leadoff hitter Candice Sheehan tripled and scored on a base hit by Zilka. UB scored their second run in the bottom of the third on Waldron’s first career home run. Neither team scored again, but each had their chances. UB loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning with Zilka starting things off with a walk. Waldron doubled and Zilka was thrown out at the plate. The Bulls then loaded the bases with a pair of walks, but could not produce a run. Barr came on in relief of Diaz and kept the Bobcats scoreless in 5.2 innings of work, allowing four hits and striking out five batters.

Erin Zilka

Next Up

The Bulls will take a trip to Pittsburgh, PA for a mid-week non conference doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Panthers on Tuesday, April 14. Buffalo will resume conference play next weekend when they travel to Central and Eastern Michigan.