SOFTBALL

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AKRON, OH - The University at Buffalo softball team began its first appearance at the Mid-American Conference Tournament with a 4-0 loss to Western Michigan this afternoon at Firestone Stadium in Akron, OH.

Stacey Evans

The fourth-seeded Broncos (22-25) scored all of their runs on four hits in the first inning. Pitcher Tricia Vanderslik, the number two hitter, quickly helped her own cause by belting a one-out solo home run to left center to open the scoring. A walk, a strikeout, a single by Kristi Strange and a UB error allowed the second Bronco run to cross the plate, and Molly Mroczek and Becky Bartosz then hit back-to-back RBI-singles to give Western Michigan a commanding 4-0 lead. Senior pitcher Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad) then came in to replace starter Sophie Barstad (Canby, OR/Canby) and got Connie Kolokithas to pop up to third to end the inning.

Evans allowed just one hit over the final 5.1 innings of the game, but the Bulls could not generate any offense to help her out. Barstad was credited with the loss, allowing four hits one earned run in two-thirds of an inning to fall to 10-11 overall. Vanderslik improved to 11-15 overall, and an infield single by senior Ann Magur (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott/Connecticut) in the fourth inning was the only hit she allowed in six innings of work. Kyla Sullivan pitched the final inning in relief.

The Bulls (21-27) are the tournament’s fifth seed, and they will play the loser of the No. 1 Marshall vs. No. 8 Kent State game at 3:00 pm on Thursday. The Marshall-Kent State game was suspended after one inning due to rain and lightning with Marshall ahead 1-0. That game will be resumed at 10 am on Thursday. The double-elimination tournament continues through Saturday.