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Softball Sweeps Central Michigan In Regular Season Finale

The Bulls defeated the Chippewas 3-1 in the day’s opener and won an exciting come-from-behind 7-6 thriller in the nightcap against a tough CMU team that entered the series at the top of the MAC West division.

Dana Carter

Sunday’s wins highlighted a strong week of play for Buffalo, as the team finished the week with a 5-1 record (3-1 MAC), sweeping both non-league opponent Syracuse on Wednesday and MAC foe Central Michigan on Sunday while splitting with Eastern Michigan on Friday.

Dana Carter (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) had a great day at the plate, helping secure the Bulls’ game one victory, roping her first career homerun in the bottom of the fifth, a towering two-run shot over the centerfield fence to help secure Buffalo’s 3-1 win. In addition, it was also Carter who put the ball in play to ink the game-winning RBI in the Bulls’ walk-off, come-from-behind victory in game two. Carter finished the day 4-for-6 (.667) from the plate with four RBIs.

Mary Russell

Senior Mary Russell (Apalachin, NY/Owego) also had an outstanding day at the plate, finishing her career 3-for-5 (.600) with one walk, one double and one RBI.

In the Bulls’ first win of the day, Sharon Barr (Coarsegold, CA/Yosemite Union) pitched a strong game on the mound to earn her fifth win of the season against one of the MAC’s most potent offenses. Barr allowed just five hits while striking out a career-high seven batters.

Buffalo got off to a quick start, scoring one run in the bottom of the first. With one out, Lindsey Hampton (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) doubled to left center and was able to advance to third on a passed ball. Russell then gave the Bulls a 1-0 lead, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field to score Hampton.

Sharon Barr

The Chippewas tied the game in the top of the third, but Buffalo would secure the game in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Ashley Kanavy (Syracuse, NY/Westhill) singled to left field. Carter then stepped to the plate and knocked the ball out of the park, inking two RBIs on her first career round-tripper while aiding in securing the UB victory.

Marcy Hansen (Claremont, CA/Claremont), Alex Bejarano (Chandler, AZ/Chandler), Carter, Kanavy, Russell and Hampton each finished with one hit in the game.

After the game one pitcher’s duel, game two proved to be a slugfest, with Buffalo recording 12 team hits and the Chippewas finishing with 14.

Central Michigan was able to gather one run in the top of the first and two more in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead into the fourth, but UB’s potent offense responded with a two-out rally, inking three in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game, 3-3.

With two down, Kanavy singled and found her way to second on a Carter single through the right side. Kristen Gallipani (Brewster, NY/Brewster) then doubled to right center, scoring both Kanavy and Carter. Next, Marcy Hansen (Claremont, CA/Claremont) reached on a CMU fielding error, allowing Gallipani to score the tying run.

Ashley Kanavy

After a scoreless fifth, the Chippewas sent one across in the top of the sixth, but Buffalo would answer again, tying the game for the second time in the bottom half of the inning.

Carter sent a one-out single to right field and was moved over by a Gallipani single, with both runners ultimately advancing on a passed ball. Carter was then nailed at home on a botched suicide squeeze, while Gallipani advanced to third. Hansen then roped a single to center to score Gallipani.

CMU plated two in the top of the seventh, but there would be no let-up in the Bulls’ scoring drive as Buffalo inked three in the bottom of the seventh for the 7-6 walk-off win.

Russell drew a walk to lead-off the inning and Katie Ivancich (Dyer, IN/Andrean) singled to push Russell to second. After inserting pinch runner Candice Sheehan (Orange, CA/El Modena) for Ivancich, Bejarano produced a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners. Lacy Schneider (Idyllwild, CA/Hemet) then hit a RBI single to left to score Russell, while Sheehan moved to third.

Katie Ivancich

Jamie Sheffler (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) was then placed at first to pinch run for Schneider and the next batter, Kanavy, drew a walk to stud the bags. Carter then stepped to the plate and sent a ground ball to short stop who in turn, threw the ball past the CMU catcher as Sheehan scored, enabling Sheffler to tag home, giving the Bulls the 7-6 victory.

Ivancich picked up the win on the mound for Buffalo, going four innings and fanning two. Ivancich also finished 2-for-2 from the plate. In addition, Carter ended the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs while Russell and Gallipani went 2-for-3. Hansen, Schneider and Kanavy all contributed one hit each with Hansen and Gallipani both closing the game with two RBIs.

The Bulls won three of their last four MAC games and five of their last six to finish the 2008 season with a 10-32 record (5-13 MAC).