Bulls Fall In Extra Innings To Michigan State, 4-3

Saturday, March 12

11 am

University at Buffalo

2-13

Michigan State

11-9

Buffalo

Michighan State

Bulls Fall In Extra Innings To Michigan State, 4-3

3/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, FL – The University at Buffalo softball team continued play at the FAU Tournament on Saturday facing its second straight opponent from the Big Ten. The Bulls held an early lead, but fell to Michigan State, 4-3, in extra innings.

UB got on board in the top of the first as sophomore Alyssa Ward continued to get on base, this time from a hit by pitch with two outs. Ward was driven in by Jessica Griffin, who doubled to right center. The Bulls continued to lead 1-0 into the bottom of the fourth when the Spartans finally got on the board with a one-out double.

The Bulls regained the lead in the top of the fifth as Ashley Bertot led off the inning with a single to right field. Bertot stole second and then following a Buffalo out, stole third. Ward doubled down the left field line to score Bertot and during the next at bat stole third. Ward ultimately would come in to score on an illegal pitch, giving UB a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth. UB still led by two until the bottom of the sixth inning when Michigan State tied things up on a two-run triple with two outs in the inning.

The game remained tied through seven as the team's played extra innings, the third such contest for UB so far this season. The Bulls went in order in the top of the eighth and Michigan State would end up scoring the winning run in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly.

Junior Holly Johnson picked up the loss despite pitching the complete game for UB. She allowed just three hits, while striking out four batters. The Bulls actually outhit the Spartans 6-3 in the contest. For the Bulls it was six different players that each recorded a hit.

The Bulls will have two more games tomorrow at the FAU Tournament facing Hofstra at 9:00 am and then the host Owls at 3:00 pm.