Bulls Sweep Opening Day Of Lion Classic

Saturday, February 8

11 am

University at Buffalo

0-3

Texas Tech

4-0

Alabama State

Buffalo

Bulls Sweep Opening Day Of Lion Classic

2/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score 3

HAMMOND, LA –The University at Buffalo softball team swept its three games on Saturday afternoon, improving to 5-0 on the season for the first time as a Division I program. UB made it dramatic for its fans, winning two of the contests in comeback fashion.

Buffalo 5, Texas Tech 0

Senior Tori Speckman picked up her second win of the season with a three-hit shutout of Texas Tech on Saturday morning. Speckman struck out nine batters and walked just one for her first complete-game of the year.

The game remained scoreless into the third inning when the Bulls struck for three runs. Junior Devon Rodriguez led off with a single and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. She moved to third following a bunt single from Ashton Earnhardt and then both came in to score on a single from Alexis Curtiss, which turned into three bases after a Texas Tech error. Junior Karly Nevez then drove her in after singling up the left side.

The Bulls scored two more in the top of the fifth as Curtiss began the inning with a single to center field. She came in to score on the second home run of the season from Sammi Gallardo, a shot to right center.

UB had 10 hits as a team, including a 3-for-4 performance out of the leadoff spot from Curtiss. Senior Tori Pettine went 2-for-3, while five other players also recorded base hits.

Buffalo 4, Alabama State 3

For the first time in the early season, UB found itself trailing in a game, but also for the first time this season, the Bulls found a way to pull out the comeback victory. Neither team was able to break into the scoring column until the fourth inning.

Alabama State scored three runs against UB starter Devon Rodriguez, but the Bulls slowly started cutting into the lead. Rodriguez helped herself out at the plate as she hit an RBI double in the bottom half of the fourth inning, pulling the Bulls within 3-1.

Sophomore Nicole Aviles gave the Bulls a solid effort in the circle in relief and kept the Hornets off the board into the bottom of the sixth inning. The Bulls put the first two on base and Pettine came in to score as senior Heather Ryder reached after an Alabama State error. With the Bulls now down by just one, Curtiss continued her solid day with a two-run single up the middle, giving the Bulls a 4-3 lead, their first lead of the game. Aviles was able to pitch out of a two-out walk in the top of the seventh to give the Bulls the win.

Aviles picked up the win as she pitched four innings of hitless ball, walking just one and striking out two. UB collected six hits on the offensive end, off the bats of six different players.

Buffalo 2, Southeastern Louisiana 1

Down to their final out of the evening against Southeastern Louisiana, the Bulls had one last come back in them as junior Karly Nevez got on board in the seventh with a two-out single. The Bulls, who allowed just a single run in the bottom of the fifth, then took the lead as senior Sammi Gallardo hit her second home run of the day, a two-run shot to right center, giving the Bulls a 2-1 lead.

Southeastern Louisiana put two on in the bottom of the seventh, but senior Tori Speckman pitched out of the jam, picking up her second shutout of the day. Speckman pitched seven innings of five-hit ball as she also struck out five.

Senior Holly Luciano and junior Devon Rodriguez both had two-hit games as the Bulls recorded nine hits as a team.

The Bulls will conclude play tomorrow at the 2014 Lion Classic with a game against Nicholls State. First pitch is set for 11:00 am eastern time.