SOFTBALL

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AKRON, OH - The Mid-American Conference's East Division leader Akron shut out the University at Buffalo softball team in a single game this afternoon to finish off the three-game conference series at Buchtel Field in Akron, OH. The Zips (27-12, 17-4), who entered the week ranked 10th in the NCAA's Mideast Region, went ahead early with three runs in the first inning and added two insurance runs in the fifth and one in the sixth for a 6-0 victory. The Bulls are now 10-25 overall and 5-16 in the MAC.

Julie Villard drove in the first run of the game on a ground out to short, and Rianne Hess then crossed the plate on an illegal pitch call on Buffalo starter Andrea Sage (Depew, NY/Depew). The Zips then went ahead 3-0 when Melissa Hurley stole home, and a two-run homer by Villard in the fifth and a solo shot by Aaren McBride in the sixth ended the scoring.

Breanne Nasti

Lisa Keenan had a strong outing on the mound for Akron, allowing just five hits and striking out seven in the complete-game shutout. Sage took the loss for the Bulls despite pitching just one inning. She was replaced by freshman Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad), who allowed three runs and six hits in the final five innings.

Buffalo sophomore Breanne Nasti (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) went 2-for-3 from the plate, and the Bulls got one hit apiece from sophomore Marce Ross (Innisfil, Ontario/St. Peter's), freshman Melissa Pace (Long Beach, CA/Millikan) and freshman Julie Hibner (Salem, OR/South Salem).

The Bulls now return home for their final three-game series of the 2002 regular season against Miami (OH). The Bulls and the RedHawks will play a doubleheader on Saturday, May 4 at 1 pm and a single game on Sunday, May 5 at Noon.