Bulls Drop A Pair On Saturday In New Mexico

Saturday, March 1

12 pm

University at Buffalo

4-13

Idaho St.

9-6

Buffalo

New Mexico

Bulls Drop A Pair On Saturday In New Mexico

3/1/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – The University at Buffalo softball team struggled on Saturday afternoon as they dropped a pair of contests at the Lobo Classic. In an offensive shootout in the opener, the Bulls lost to Idaho State, 16-7, while the Bulls lost to New Mexico, 5-2, in the second game.

" Despite the score of the games, we fought to the last out," said head coach Trena Peel. "I'm proud of our team for that effort. We struggled in the circle today and our pitchers are going to have to find a way to keep the ball in the park."

Idaho State 16, Buffalo 7

UB opened the day with an offensive explosion as the Bulls put up seven runs over five innings, but had a tough time stopping the Idaho State offense. The Bengals scored seven times over the first two innings before the Bulls found the scoreboard as senior Heather Ryder hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second.

UB then scored another three runs in the bottom of the third, beginning with a triple from Tori Pettine, who came in to score on a single from senior Holly Luciano. With two runners on, Hayley Barrow hit an infield single to drive in a run and Ryder drove in another on a sacrifice fly.

However, Idaho State responded with four runs in the fourth and five in the fifth to take a 16-4 lead. The Bulls were able to add three runs in the bottom of the fifth as the Bulls loaded the bases. Freshman Kelly Mascari drove in a run on a single to left field and Kenzie Koch picked up an RBI as she was hit by a pitch. Sammi Gallardo drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.

Senior Tori Speckman picked up the loss as she allowed six runs in 1.2 innings. The Bulls had nine hits as a team, including a 2-for-3 performance from Pettine and Luciano. Ryder had a pair of runs batted in.

New Mexico 5, Buffalo 2

UB took an early lead against the host Lobos, scoring two in the top of the second on an RBI double from sophomore Ryleigh Fitzgerald. It would be UB's only two runs of the evening.

New Mexico scored one in the bottom of the third, but it was one swing of the bat in the fifth that changed the game. The Lobos hit a three-run home run to take a 4-2 lead and then added one more in the in the bottom of the sixth.

Speckman stuck out three in six innings of work as she picked up the loss. The Bulls had just two hits in the game, one coming from Fitzgerald and the other from Barrow.

The Bulls will close out play tomorrow at Noon vs. North Dakota State.