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MT. PLEASANT, MI – Sophomore pitcher Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad) pitched a three-hitter and RBI-singles by junior Allison Round (Markham, Ontario/Markham District) and freshman Lauren Picciano (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) sent the University at Buffalo softball team to an impressive 2-0 shutout of the defending Mid-American Conference champion Central Michigan Chippewas this afternoon in Mt. Pleasant, MI. The win evens the Bulls' record at 14-14 overall and ups their MAC record to 4-6 on the season. With the loss, CMU falls to 19-13 overall and 8-5 in the MAC.

Allison Round

The Chippewas stranded runners on base in each of the first three innings, and the Bulls finally lit up the scoreboard in the top of the fifth when senior Jessica Kensy (Cheektowaga, NY/Maryvale) started things off with a one-out single to right. Junior Dominique Jones (Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt) came in to the game as a pinch runner and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Melissa Pace (Long Beach, CA/Millikan). Junior Marce Ross (Innisfil, Ontario/St. Peter's) then reached on a throwing error, moving Jones to third and keeping the inning going for Picciano, who responded with a single down the right field line to drive in Jones with the first run of the game. Junior Breanne Nasti (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) led off the sixth inning with a single up the middle, and her pinch runner, Heather Robbins (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield), later crossed the plate with the insurance run on a single by Round. CMU's Aimee Smith led off the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle, but was then forced out at second on a fielder's choice by Sarah Hamilton. Hamilton advanced to second on a groundout by Christin Sobeck, and Evans then got Natalie de la Vega to fly out to center field to end the game.

Evans struck out three batters and picked up her ninth win, and her fifth shutout, of the season. CMU starter Jenni Rasmussen struck out five and allowed six hits in five innings of work.

The Bulls and the Chippewas will complete their three-game series on Saturday, April 19 with a doubleheader beginning at 11 am. The doubleheader was originally scheduled to begin at 1 pm but has been moved up because of the threat of bad weather later in the day.