Bulls Swept In MAC-Opening Doubleheader

Friday, March 29

1 pm

5-18, 0-1

Akron

12-12, 1-0

Akron

Buffalo

Bulls Swept In MAC-Opening Doubleheader

3/29/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo softball team began two portions of its schedule on Friday, playing at home for the first time all season as UB and Akron opened up Mid-American Conference play. The Bulls fell on the short end of both games however, as the Zips won the opener 3-2 and the second game, 10-1.

In the opener, the Zips scored a run in the top of the fifth, which broke a 2-2 tie and proved to be the game-winner. Akron scored two runs in the top of the fourth, but the Bulls responded with two of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Junior Sammi Gallardo opened the fourth with a double to left field and then came in to score as sophomore Alexis Curtiss singled up the middle. Curtiss moved up to second on a ground out and third on a wild pitch and then came in to score on an Akron fielding error.

Akron loaded the bases in the top of the fifth with nobody out and singled in the go-ahead run before UB made a pitching change and moved to freshman Dani Cowan. She worked out of trouble as she got her first batter to pop up and then the next batter to fly out to left field. On the flyout, left fielder Karly Nevez gunned down the Akron runner at the plate to end the inning.

The Bulls had a chance in the bottom of the sixth inning as they put together a little two-out rally. UB placed runners at the corners, but a failed bunt attempt ended the inning. Junior Heather Ryder picked up the loss as she went four innings and allowed eight hits. Cowan struck out four and allowed just one hit in three innings of relief. Gallardo had two of UB's five hits in the game.

Akron was strong offensively in the second game, scoring six runs over the first three innings. Junior Tori Speckman picked up the start, but managed to go just 0.2 innings, allowing three runs. Cowan came on in relief to pitch five innings. The Zips used the long ball in the first two innings, taking full advantage of the wind, which was blowing out to left field.

The Zips increased their lead to 8-0 in the sixth as the Bulls made another pitching change, bringing in freshman Nicole Aviles, who recorded a strikeout for the final out of the inning. Buffalo got on the board in the bottom half of the inning as Nevez hit a one-out single and was moved to second on a single down the left field line from Gallardo. Another single by Curtiss loaded the bases with just one out. Freshman Anissa Pinedo drove in the first run on a ground out, but the Bulls would get no closer.

The Zips added another two runs in the top of the seventh for the final margin of victory. Speckman picked up the loss, while Akron's Erin Seiler picked up the victory in both games on the afternoon. The Bulls recorded four hits, one coming from each of the top four spots in the lineup.

Due to projected rain in the forecast for Sunday, Buffalo will play a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon against Ohio beginning at 1:00 pm.