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Bulls Split Doubleheader With Ball State

Laura Kor

The Cardinals took the early lead in game one, using the long ball for a 1-0 lead. However, the Bulls tied the game up with one swing of the bat as freshman Erin Zilka (Benicia, CA/Benicia) hit a home run to left center field, bringing UB right back into the game. The dinger was Zilka's seventh of the season, regaining the team lead.

UB took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, piecing a run together that began when Lauren Picciano (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) reached base after she was hit by a pitch. Picciano's pinch runner was erased as she was caught stealing third, but Mary Russell (Apalachin, NY/Owego Free Academy), who reached on an error, moved up to second. Russell advanced to third on a ground out by Marcy Hansen (Claremont, CA/Claremont) and then scored as Laura Kor (Beaverton, OR/Westview) reached base on a fielding error.

Sophie Barstad

Junior Sophie Barstad (Canby, OR/Canby) picked up the win for the Bulls, going the distance and allowing just one run on five hits. Barstad struck out nine Cardinals, while walking just two, to pick up her 11th win of the season. Abby Zollman picked up the loss coming on in relief. Zollman pitched two innings without allowing a hit, but was credited with the one run, which was unearned.

In the nightcap, the Bulls got on the board early, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. Russell led the game off with a single to left field and stole second. Kor drove her in as she hit a towering double to left field, plating Russell. The double was one of three for Kor on the afternoon.

Ball State got back into the game in the top of the second, leading the inning off with a home run to left center by Abby Gross. Gross than broke the tie in the top of the fourth inning, hitting her second home run of the contest, this time to left field. Ball State added three more runs in the inning off a bases clearing double.

The Cardinals broke the game wide open in the sixth inning as Amanda Pick hit a grand slam over the left field fence to fuel a five-run inning.

Jennifer Biernacki (Medina, NY/Medina) picked up the loss for the Bulls, going the first four innings. She allowed five runs on five hits, while striking out five Ball State batters. Margo Schramm (Phoenix, AZ/Catalina Foothills/Iowa Lakes CC) came on in relief, allowing seven hits and five runs in two innings of work, while striking out one. The win went to Laura Masch, who pitched a complete game, allowing just three hits, only one after the first inning, and striking out four, while allowing just one run.

The Bulls wrap up the season this weekend with a series against Miami (OH). First pitch is set for 2:00 pm on Saturday and 1:00 pm on Sunday. Both games can be heard live on WLVL-1340 AM or by accessing Teamline from the Buffalo Bulls softball page.