Pair Of Shutouts Lead Bulls To Doubleheader Sweep Over Niagara

Tuesday, April 9

Niagara Falls, NY

3 pm

University at Buffalo

9-22

Niagara

3-19

Buffalo

Niagara

Pair Of Shutouts Lead Bulls To Doubleheader Sweep Over Niagara

4/9/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

LEWISTON , NY - The University at Buffalo softball team increased its winning streak to four straight games with a doubleheader sweep of Niagara on Tuesday afternoon at the Niagara Softball Field. Both victories went just the five-inning minimum, but for two very different reasons. The first was an 8-0 run-rule victory, while the second was a 1-0 win shortened by rain.

UB got off to a quick start in the opener as junior starting pitcher Heather Ryder provided her own offense with an early two-run home run, scoring senior Alyssa Ward. UB added four runs in the top of the second as senior Jessica Griffin doubled to center field, driving in junior Holly Luciano. The Bulls put two runners in scoring position when junior Sammi Gallardo hit her team-leading sixth home run, a three-run shot to left center.

The Bulls added a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning as Ward hit a one-out triple and then came in to score on a failed pickoff attempt by the Niagara catcher. UB ended up loading the bases in the fifth and drove in the second run as Tori Pettine was hit by a pitch to drive in a run.

UB didn't need a whole lot of offense as Ryder pitched arguably her best game of the season, striking out four and giving up just four singles, while walking one. The victory was Ryder's first of the season. She also joined Luciano on the offensive end as the only two players with multi-hit games.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Bulls got on the board in the top of the first and had it stand up as the weather quickly deteriorated. Gallardo worked out a leadoff walk and then stole second. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Karly Nevez and came in to score on a sacrifice fly from Ward.

Buffalo put runners on base in every inning up until the fifth, but it was unable to get another run home even after Nevez hit a one-out triple in the third. Junior Tori Speckman allowed six hits during the five-inning shutout, pitching in and out of trouble most of the afternoon. In the third, Niagara had two runners on, when Speckman got a groundout to third base to end the inning.

In the fourth inning, Niagara made a two-out rally, putting runners on the corners, but freshman Ryleigh Fitzgerald snagged a hard line drive to short, ending that inning.

When the bottom of the fifth started, the rain started to pick up, but the Bulls needed to complete the inning for it to become an official game. The Purple Eagles had a runner on second with two outs and Speckman had a full count on her batter when the umpires called for a rain delay with UB just one strike short of the official game.

Following a 15-minute delay, the Bulls retook the field and Speckman got her batter to fly out to left field on the first pitch thrown. The game was called immediately following that out, giving Buffalo the doubleheader sweep.

Speckman picked up her third win of the season as she struck out four in the five innings. The Bulls recorded just four hits in the second game, their fewest over the last four games.

"We got outstanding pitching today and they worked themselves out of trouble when they needed to," said head coach Jen Teague. "Our offensive effort in the first game was great, but we struggled a little from the plate in the second game. We didn't let the weather affect us and made plays in the field."

The four-game winning streak for the Bulls is their longest since the 2009 season when they won eight in a row. The Bulls also now own a five-game winning streak over Niagara,

The Bulls return to conference action on Friday afternoon as they head to Bowling Green for a doubleheader. First pitch scheduled for 1:00 pm.