SOFTBALL

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MUNCIE, IN - The University at Buffalo softball team split a doubleheader at Ball State this afternoon, taking a 5-0 decision in the opener before falling by a 2-1 score in the nightcap. Senior Breanne Nasti (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) had four hits on the day and senior Marce Ross (Innisfil, Ontario/St. Peter's) hit her second home run of the year to lead the Bulls' offense. Buffalo is now 23-23 overall and 9-10 in the Mid-American Conference while Ball State is 15-37 overall and 7-15 in the MAC.

Breanne Nasti

In the opener, the Bulls got on the board with one run in the fourth when Nasti reached on an infield single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Melissa Pace (Long Beach, CA/Millikan) and then scored on a double down the left field line by junior Ann Magur (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott/Connecticut). The Bulls then exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh inning to seal the victory, highlighted by a three-run double to left center by Nasti. Nasti was 3-for-4 and senior Dominique Jones (Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt) was 2-for-3 to combine for five of the Bulls' 10 hits in the game. Buffalo junior Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad) pitched the complete game and allowed just two hits while striking out eight. Ball State starter Randi Freese suffered the loss, allowing 10 hits and five earned runs with four strikeouts.

The Cardinals struck early in game two, scoring twice on four hits in the bottom of the first inning. Kris Burdine doubled and scored on a single to center by Britni Clark, and another single to center by Kelli Jeziorski scored Mandy Snyder. The Bulls got on the board in the top of the sixth inning when Ross hit a solo home run, her second of the season. Senior Allison Round (Markham, Ontario/Markham District) got on with a one-out single in the top of the seventh to represent the game-tying run, but she was left stranded as BSU pitcher Quincy Duran forced a fly out and a pop out to end the game. Duran allowed six hits and struck out four in the complete-game victory, while Evans went the distance for the Bulls again, allowing seven hits and striking out three.

The Bulls, still in the hunt for the final spot in the six-team Mid-American Conference Tournament, will finish the 2004 regular season with a doubleheader at Toledo on Saturday, May 8 at 1 pm.