Speckman's Career Day Leads Bulls To 3-1 Victory

Sunday, March 17

2:30 pm

5-17

Texas-Arlington

15-11

Buffalo

Texas-Arlington

Speckman's Career Day Leads Bulls To 3-1 Victory

3/17/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, CA – Junior Tori Speckman struck out a career-high 12 batters and pitched a complete game two-hitter on Sunday afternoon as the Bulls ended their Spring Break trip with a 3-1 victory over Texas-Arlington. This afternoon's game capped off a 22-game road trip to start the season.

Speckman was sharp early on, retiring the first 10 batters she faced, including striking out the side in the second. Speckman finally allowed a hit in the bottom of the fourth inning, which came in to score on a two-out triple. It would be the only two hits allowed all day.

Despite the solid pitching performance, UB trailed 1-0 heading into the fifth inning where it benefited from some defensive miscues, scoring three runs to take the lead. Freshman Ryleigh Fitzgerald led the inning off with a single up the middle and moved to second base following a second out in the inning. UB put runners on the corners following an infield single from Tori Pettine. The Bulls then tested the arm of the UTA catcher as Pettine stole second, resulting in a throwing error from behind the plate. Fitzgerald and Pettine both came in to score on the error to take the lead.

Junior Sammi Gallardo continued the inning by hitting a triple to right field and came in to score on a fielding error by the short stop.

The 3-1 advantage was all Buffalo needed as Speckman retired the last 10 batters in order, the final out coming on her 12^th strikeout.

The Bulls recorded six hits on the afternoon, five coming from the first four batters in the lineup. Senior Alyssa Ward went 2-for-4. Speckman picked up her third victory of the year with her 12 strikeouts, pitching to just two over the minimum.

Buffalo will have the week off before opening the home portion of its schedule next Wednesday, Mar. 27 against Canisius.