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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo softball team split a doubleheader with the Miami RedHawks this afternoon to end the 2001 season with a 12-40 overall record and a 4-20 record in the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls gave up a run in the seventh inning of the opener to drop a 5-4 decision but came back to earn a 7-1 win in the nightcap in their final game of the season.

A single by freshman Heather Robbins (West Bloomfield, MI/West Bloomfield) with two outs in the first inning of the opener scored freshman Breanne Nasti (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) with the first run of the afternoon, and the Bulls held the slight 1-0 lead until the fourth inning when the RedHawks scored two runs on three hits. The Bulls answered with a single run in the fifth to tie the score at 2-2 when a double by Nasti drove in freshman Marce Ross (Barrie, Ontario/St. Peter's). Miami regained the lead in the sixth with two runs off of a single by pinch-hitter Laura Fulton, but the Bulls again came back to tie the score at 4-4 with two runs in the seventh. Ross crossed the plate on a wild pitch and Robbins then singled with two outs to drive in freshman Allison Round (Markham, Ontario/Markham District) with the tying run. The RedHawks, however, loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh and scored the winning run on a single by Erin Kucera. The RedHawks outhit the Bulls by a 12-9 margin in the game. Sophomore Andrea Sage (Depew, NY/Depew) took the loss on the mound for the Bulls despite allowing only three earned runs and striking out four.

In the nightcap, the Bulls scored seven straight runs before giving up a single run in the bottom of the seventh to end the season with a 7-1 victory. A double by sophomore Kelly Malone (Waterford, MI/Waterford Kettering) scored Ross with the first run of the game in the first inning, and Buffalo then added three more runs in the third on two hits. Nasti scored on a two-out, bases-loaded wild pitch by Miami's Amber Arnold, and a single by sophomore Jessica Kensy (Cheektowaga, NY/Maryvale) drove in Robbins and Malone to put the Bulls ahead 4-0. Buffalo then took advantage of three Miami errors in the sixth inning to put three more runs across the plate. Nasti's fielder's choice scored sophomore Laura Gilcrist (Getzville, NY/Williamsville North), an error by Miami's Kristina Mortaloni scored Ross, and a single by Robbins scored Nasti to give the Bulls a comfortable 7-0 lead. Miami's Mary Neal singled in the seventh, stole second and third, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Keri Brisnehan, but that was the only run the RedHawks would put across the plate. Robbins earned the win on the mound, striking out seven and allowing just six hits. Nasti was 1-for-4 from the plate in the win, giving her 59 hits on the season and tying her with Patty Murphy (1982-85) for the most career hits at UB.