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Softball Finishes Fall 2-2

Binghamton, NY- The University at Buffalo softball team recently finished with a 2-2 record at the Binghamton University Tournament, played Sept. 16-17 in Binghamton, NY.

Erin Zilka

The Bulls went undefeated on the opening day of the tournament, downing Binghamton, 9-6 and Army, 7-6. UB’s offense came alive in the top of the third when freshmen Katie Ivancich (Dyer, IN/ Andrean) and Kristen Gallipani (Brewster, NY/ Brewster) struck back to back singles. Ivancich, Gallipani and senior Mary Russell (Apalachin, NY/ Owego Free Academy) would all score in the inning. The Bulls continued to build momentum at the plate, as Gallipani and sophomore Erin Zilka (Benicia, CA/ Benicia) added a homer to maintain the Buffalo lead. Ivancich finished the game 2-3 at the plate, while Gallipani and Zilka went 2-4 and Rusell finished 3-5. Ivancich got the start on the mound for Buffalo, throwing five strong innings. Fellow freshman Sharon Barr (Coarsegold, CA/ Yosemite Union) contributed two strong innings in the victory.

Colleen Greene

Against Army, the Bulls continued to ride the arm of Barr, as the rookie owned the mound for the complete victory. Russell got the ball rolling for the Bulls in the bottom of the first, as the senior found her way to first base after getting hit with a pitch. Senior Colleen Greene (Cheektowaga, NY/ Cleveland Hill) then drew a walk and Zilka slammed a single to ink the duo of RBI’s and to give the Bulls a 2-0 lead. After adding another run in the bottom of the third inning, Army answered back, scoring two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Buffalo held a one run lead into the top of the seventh, until Army used a two-out rally to load the bases. Army then inserted a pinch hitter who took the first pitch deep for a bases-clearing grand slam, giving the Black Knights a 6-3 lead.

Marcy Hansen

Down by three runs in the bottom of the seventh, Ivancich got on by an error and Russell followed with a single. Junior Marcy Hansen (Claremont, CA/ Claremont) then singled up the middle and picked up an RBI. Zilka kept the rally going, tripling to right center to tie the game. With two outs, Barr, who had just given up the Army grand slam, hit in the winning run to give the Bulls a 7-6 win.

Day two featured a different flavor, as the Bulls suffered setbacks in both contests, first falling to Fordham, 6-3 and then being triumphed by Albany, 4-2.

Sophomore Dana Carter (Williamsville, NY/ Williamsville South) tallied the first loss for the Bulls, throwing five innings with Barr completing two innings in relief. Buffalo chalked three runs in the third inning, capped off by Russell and Hansen singles and a Green walk. UB held Fordham scoreless through five until the Rams’ bats exploded for a six run sixth, highlighted by two home runs, two hits and two walks.

Mary Russell

The last game of the tournament featured the Bulls against in-state rival Albany. Buffalo scored first, with junior Lacey Schneider (Idyllwild, CA/ Hemet) roping a double in the second. Albany slowly chipped away at the plate, scoring two runs in the fourth and adding single runs in both the fifth and seventh innings. Russell finished the game 2-4 at the plate with a duo of doubles while Gallipani went 3-4 with two doubles.