University at Buffalo
2-5
Eastern Illinois
2-3
Bulls Drop A Pair In Louisville
2/23/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
LOUISVILLE, KY - The University at Buffalo softball team hung tough with the #18 team in the country on Saturday afternoon, but fell to Louisville, 9-3. Earlier in the day, the Bulls lost to Eastern Illinois, 4-1.
In the opener, Eastern Illinois got a solid pitching performance from Hanna Mennenga, who struck out 14 batters to pick up the win. The Panthers got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the first and another in the bottom of the third.
The Bulls remained hitless until the top of the seventh when senior Andi Saucier hit a leadoff home run to left field.
Freshman Nicole Aviles picked up the loss as she went just a third of an inning, allowing three runs, although just one of those were earned. Fellow freshman Dani Cowan pitched the final 5.2 innings, striking out four.
In the second game, the Bulls played the host Cardinals and struck first in the top of the first inning. Junior Tori Pettine reached base with one out as she was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a ground out. Pettine then came in to score as freshman Anissa Pinedo singled up the middle.
The Cardinals responded with three runs in the bottom of the first, but were then silenced by UB pitching over the next four innings. In the top of the fourth, UB cut even further into the Louisville lead as junior Sammi Gallardo belted a lead off home run to center field. In the fifth inning, the Bulls finally pulled even, as sophomore Alexis Curtiss drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a one-out single. Both Curtiss and Saucier moved into scoring position with a wild pitch and Curtiss eventually came home on a sacrifice fly from senior Alyssa Ward.
The game remained tied into the bottom of the sixth when two early walks led to a six-run inning for the Cardinals. The Bulls put a pair of runners on in the top of the seventh, but could do no further damage.
The Bulls finished with eight hits against Louisville, including two from Curtiss, Pinedo and Caitlin Dekker. Junior Heather Ryder picked up the loss as she allowed four runs in 3.0 innings pitched. Both Cowan and junior Tori Speckman both saw action in the game as well.
Buffalo concludes play tomorrow at the Cardinal Classic with a rematch against Eastern Illinois. First pitch scheduled for 10:00 am.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MENNENGA (2-0)
L: Aviles, Nicole (1-1)
Batting:
HR: Saucier, Andi 1
RBI: Saucier, Andi 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Saucier, Andi 1
HBP: Ward, Alyssa 1 ; Gallardo, Sammi 1
Batting:
2B: COLE 1 ; OWENS 1
RBI: COLE 2 ; OWENS 1 ; BIEL 1
SH: OWENS 1
SF: BIEL 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BROWN 1 ; WILLERT 2 ; COLE 1
CS: BROWN 1
