SOFTBALL

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo head softball coach Marie Curran has announced the addition of five players to her team for the 2002 season. They are: shortstop Erica Pace (Long Beach, CA/Millikan), infielder Melissa Pace (Long Beach, CA/Millikan), catcher Julie Hibner (Salem, OR/South Salem), outfielder Lisa Wheat (Olympia, WA/Tumwater) and outfielder/pitcher Ann Marie Magur (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott). These five newcomers join Stacey Evans (Collinsville, IL/Triad), a right-handed pitcher and an early signee back in December, to make up the Bulls' 2001-02 recruiting class.

"Our staff is very excited about the first-year players we have here this year," said Curran. "The depth and the national experience these student-athletes bring to our program will contribute to our anticipated success this spring season. Another asset of all of them is their great work ethic, both on the field and in the classroom."

Twin sisters Erica and Melissa Pace were both three-year letterwinners at Millikan High School in Long Beach, CA where they helped the Rams to the Co-Moore League Championship title in 2001. Erica was the Ram's Most Valuable Player as a freshman in 1998, and Melissa was the team's Defensive Player of the Year in 1998, 2000 and 2001 in addition to being an All-Moore League selection as a junior. Both Erica and Melissa also competed in the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Nationals playing for the Strike Force club team.

Hibner was a four-year letterwinner and a two-time captain at South Salem High School in Oregon where she batted .325 and was named team MVP as a senior, helping the Saxons finish as one of the top eight teams in the state. Hibner was a third-team All-Valley League selection as a sophomore, an honorable mention selection as a junior and a second-team honoree as a senior.

Wheat was a four-year letterwinner and team captain at Tumwater High School in the state of Washington. As a center fielder in 2001, she was named All-Area and first-team All-League. She was also a first-team All-League selection in 2000 as an infielder and an All-Area honorable mention selection in 1999.

As a center fielder and pitcher at Union-Endicott High School, Magur led her team with a .540 batting average and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage as a senior. A four-year letterwinner and two-year captain, she was named New York State Class A Player of the Year in 2000 and was a three-time first-team All-State selection in center field. Magur also competed for the Conklin Raiders 18-and-under team that posted a 44-9 record and placed seventh in the ASA Nationals in 2000. Magur played at Connecticut during the 2000 fall season before suffering a knee injury.