SOFTBALL

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Jessica Kensy

BUFFALO, NY - Junior Jessica Kensy (Cheektowaga, NY/Maryvale) drove in junior Jennifer Moore (Williamsville, NY/Delhi (Ont.) District) with the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning to send the University at Buffalo softball team to a 2-1 win over visiting Canisius College in the opener of a doubleheader at the UB Softball Stadium this afternoon. The Griffs, who entered the game ranked in the top six in the NCAA's East Region in the latest regional poll released on April 11, rebounded for a 9-3 win in game two to improve their record to 21-13 overall. The Bulls are now 6-21 on the season.

Sophomore Allison Round (Markham, Ontario/Markham District) was hit by a pitch to lead off the fourth inning of game one, and she advanced to third on a single to right center by freshman Ann Marie Magur (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott/Connecticut) and then scored the game's first run on a single through the left side by freshman Julie Hibner (Salem, OR/South Salem). Canisius' Jill Iacono sent the game into extra innings with a solo home run to lead off the top of the seventh, and the Bulls then earned their third extra-inning victory of the year in the 10th. Moore hit a one-out single and advanced to second when the ball skipped past right fielder Ashley Gonnello. She then reached third on a bunt by freshman Erica Pace (Long Beach, CA/Millikan), and Kensy drove her home with the winning run with a single up the middle. Freshman pitcher Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad) earned her third win of the year, throwing all 10 innings and striking out a career-high 12 batters. Canisius reliever Andrea Bunten suffered her first loss of the year, pitching the final five and one-third innings and striking out nine.

Ann Marie Magur

Game two was scoreless through four before the Griffs exploded for nine runs in the final three innings, including a four-run sixth, while taking advantage of four Buffalo fielding errors. The Bulls got one run in the fifth when Round hit a two-out home run down the right field line, and they put two more runs across the plate in the sixth when sophomore Breanne Nasti (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) led off with a single up the middle and Magur followed with her second career home run to left field. Junior Andrea Sage (Depew, NY/Depew) took the loss on the mound despite allowing just two earned runs and striking out seven, while Genevieve Garcia earned the win for Canisius.

The Bulls play a doubleheader at St. Bonaventure on Thursday, April 25 before returning home to host Niagara on Friday, April 26. Game time for both doubleheaders is 3 pm.