SOFTBALL

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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo softball team earned its first-ever trip to the Mid-American Conference Tournament today by sweeping the Ohio Bobcats in a doubleheader by scores of 7-2 in game one and 9-1 in five innings in game two. The Bulls had it all going for them today, using the long ball, solid defense and great pitching to get the pair of wins. The Bulls are now riding a three-game winning streak.

Melissa Pace

The Bulls hit five home runs in the doubleheader, including two each from sophomore Mary Russell (Apalachin, NY/Owego Free Academy) and senior Melissa Pace (Long Beach, CA/Millikan), who both hit one in each game. Freshman Laura Kor (Beaverton, OR/Westview) hit her team-leading sixth home run of the season in game two, a walk-off homer to end the game in the fifth.

With the score tied 1-1 in the fifth inning of the first game, Russell hit her first dinger of the day, a solo shot to left field. Freshman Marcy Hansen (Claremont, CA/Claremont) followed up with a double to right center. After senior Ann Magur (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott/Connecticut) walked, the Bobcats made a pitching change, but the hot-hitting would continue. Senior Julie Hibner (Salem, OR/South Salem) singled to right field for an RBI, as well as move Magur over to third. Freshman Lacy Schneider (Idyllwild, CA/Hemet) would add an RBI with a single to right field. With two runners on, Pace would hit her first of two three-run homers on the day.

The Bobcats would get one back in the sixth inning on a solo home run by Jennifer Tisevich, but sophomore pitcher Sophie Barstad (Canby, OR/Canby) would stay in for the complete game, recording her 10th victory of the season, giving up five hits and one earned run and striking out one. The loss for the Bobcats would be charged to Candace Warden.

The Bulls would be down a run early in game two, but in the bottom of the inning, they would load the bases for Pace. After a passed ball that scored Magur from third, Pace would use the long ball again, this time to left center for her sixth RBI of the day.

Mary Russell

The Bulls didn't stop in the second as freshman Kerry Cafazzo (Everett, MA/Everett) led the inning off with a double. With one out, Russell sent a shot over the left field fence to add to the Bulls' lead.

They would tack on another run in the fourth inning on a wild pitch by Michelle Sauter and then in the bottom of the fifth inning, with two outs, Pace doubled to left field to bring up Kor. She hit a shot over the right center fence, which would end the game early due to the eight-run rule.

Senior Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad) didn't need the insurance as she only let up two hits, one earned run, and struck out three. The loss in game two was charged to Zoe Heim.

This is the second straight year that both Buffalo pitchers, Evans and Barstad, have reached double digits in wins.

The Bulls will be back in action against the Bobcats for the regular season finale at Nan Harvey Field Sunday at 1 pm. The 2005 Mid-American Conference Tournament begins on Wednesday, May 11 at Firestone Stadium in Akron, OH.