Bulls Split Pair With Central Michigan

Friday, April 11

2 pm

18-16, 2-1

Central Michigan

24-11, 3-2

Central Michigan

Buffalo

Bulls Split Pair With Central Michigan

4/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo softball team continued its 10-game home stand on Friday afternoon, splitting a pair of games with Central Michigan. The Bulls won the opener, 5-2, while falling in the second game, 5-1. UB is now 18-17 on the season and remains even in Mid-American Conference play at 2-2.

"We started off well in the first game and swung the bats well," said head coach Trena Peel. "Tori had a great game like she always does, hitting her spots, and getting us a W. It was great to get the win, but we are trying to go for sweeps and that didn't happen today."

Buffalo 5, Central Michigan 2

The Bulls jumped on the Chippewas early in game one as they staked starter Tori Speckman out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning. Senior Sammi Gallardo kept her hot bat going as she homered to left center to open the bottom of the first, her fourth home run in three games. UB continued its long-ball hitting as junior Hayley Barrow homered to left center as well, driving in two runs.

Speckman was in control in the circle as she retired the first nine batters and took a no-hitter into the fifth. The Bulls increased their lead in the bottom of the fourth as they loaded the bases with nobody out. A fielder's choice from sophomore Ryleigh Fitzgerald drove in the first run and a throwing error by the Central Michigan shortstop scored freshman Ashton Earnhardt, giving the Bulls a 5-0 advantage.

Solo home runs from CMU in the sixth cut the UB lead to 5-2, but Speckman continued to pitch out of some jams right to the very last at bat. The Chippewas loaded the bases with just one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Speckman induced a pop up to short for the second out and then got a ground ball to preserve the victory.

Speckman picked up her 12th win of the season in the circle as she allowed just five hits and two runs, while striking out four. Chelsea Sundberg picked up the loss as she went just 0.1 innings and allowing two home runs. Morgan Yuncker allowed just one hit in 5.2 innings of relief. In addition to Gallardo and Barrow's home runs in the first, UB also got hits from Karly Nevez and Holly Luciano.

The victory for UB snapped Central Michigan's seven-game winning streak.

Central Michigan 5, Buffalo 1

Despite a solid pitching performance from Barrow, the Bulls fell in game two to the Chippewas 5-1. Central Michigan struck for two runs in the top of the first as it loaded the bases with two outs in the inning. An RBI single plated the first run, with a second coming in to score on an error.

UB looked to cut into the lead in the second as freshman Savanna Norcio hit the first of two doubles on the afternoon. She advanced to third with one out, but was left stranded. The Bulls put two more on base in the third, but couldn't plate a run. CMU then added two runs in the top of the fourth and another in the fifth to extend its lead to 5-0.

The score remained the same into the bottom of the sixth inning as Barrow hit her second home run of the afternoon, this one to straight away center field, putting the Bulls on the board. UB got the leadoff runner on in the seventh, but the Bulls couldn't convert.

Barrow struck out a career-high nine batters as she went the distance, allowing eight hits and four earned runs. She walked two, but those both came in the first inning. Rachael Knapp pitched well for the Chippewas as she struck out seven and allowed just three hits.

All three of the Buffalo hits went for extra bases as Norcio had a pair of doubles and Barrow had the sixth inning home run.

The Bulls will open up a two-game series tomorrow with Eastern Michigan. First pitch set for 2:00pm.