Speckman Tosses Gem As Bulls Improve To 6-0

Sunday, February 9

11 am

6-0

Nicholls St.

1-4

Nicholls State

Buffalo

Speckman Tosses Gem As Bulls Improve To 6-0

2/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

HAMMOND, LA – Senior Tori Speckman pitched a complete-game four-hit shutout and the Bulls made solid plays defensively all game as the University at Buffalo softball team defeated Nicholls St., 1-0, improving to 6-0 on the season, the best start in school history.

Both Speckman and her counterpart Jackie Johnson pitched well as neither team was able to find the scoring column over the first two and a half innings, but the Bulls finally came through with a run in the bottom of the third.

Freshman Ashton Earnhardt reached base on a leadoff walk and was moved to third as junior Alexis Curtiss doubled to left center, putting two in scoring position. Fellow junior Karly Nevez then singled to right field, scoring Earnhardt for the lone run. The Bulls put two back in scoring position with nobody out, but couldn't put any more runs on the board.

However, with Speckman in the circle, one run is all the Bulls needed for victory. She scattered four hits over four different innings, but struck out four and did not walk any. She relied on her defense behind her and it paid off, especially late. Senior Holly Luciano put a huge exclamation point on the weekend in the top of the seventh as she took away a sure leadoff extra base hit, making a diving catch in center field for the first out. Luciano made all three outs in the seventh to clinch the victory.

"Today was another good challenge for us and we were able to pull out a close game," said head coach Trena Peel. "We got the lead early and we were able to hold on to it. Tori was on her game and that catch Holly made late was outstanding. Our defense played well today and I think what I was most pleased with this weekend was all of the different ways that we were able to win games. This is a great start to build on."

Both teams finished with four hits apiece. UB got extra base hits from Curtis and Earnhardt, while Nevez and Luciano each had singles and a stolen base.

The victory capped off a 6-0 weekend, by far the best opening weekend in the history of the Buffalo softball program. Last season, it took 26 games before the Bulls recorded their sixth victory. Through the first weekend, six UB players finished with batting averages over .300, led by Luciano, who hit .529 and drive nine runs in. Curtiss hit .476 and drove in six runs, while Earnhardt hit .455 in her first collegiate weekend. Nevez hit .389, while driving in three runs and senior Sammi Gallardo hit three home runs over the first weekend, driving in eight.

Speckman was unstoppable in the circle as she picked up the win in all four of her appearances, pitching two shutouts and three complete games. She allowed just two runs in 25.0 innings pitched and struck out 26, while walking just three.

The Bulls are going to have some time to enjoy this start as they will be off next weekend from competition. UB is back in action on Friday, Feb. 21 at Red and Blue Classic in Oxford, MS. The first game is against St. Louis.