Bulls Fall In Extra Innings To Toledo

Sunday, April 20

1 pm

University at Buffalo

21-20, 5-5

Toledo

15-31, 6-10

Toledo

Buffalo

Bulls Fall In Extra Innings To Toledo

4/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo softball team left 11 runners on base Sunday afternoon and was unable to hold on to a late lead as the Bulls fell to Toledo, 6-2, in eight innings. Today's game was UB's final one at Nan Harvey Field.

Toledo took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning as Celeste Fidge had the first of four hits with a solo home run. The Bulls tied it up in the bottom of the third as senior Sammi Gallardo hit a lead off single and she came in to score on a single through the left side from junior Hayley Barrow.

UB scored again in the fourth as freshman Jessica Taylor hit a lead off double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Sophomore Ryleigh Fitzgerald then drove her in as she dumped a single into shallow right field. The Bulls took a 2-1 lead, but it could have been more as the Bulls left the bases loaded in both the first and fifth innings.

Toledo opened the seventh with a leadoff double and came in to score on an infield single and error by the Bulls. UB put a two-out base runner on in the seventh, but couldn't score as the game went into extra innings.

In the eighth, Toledo hit a leadoff single and a pair of sacrifice bunts put a runner at third with two away. An infield single scored the go ahead run and then Fidge had the big hit, a three-run home run, her fourth hit of the game. UB got a two-out baserunner in the bottom of the eighth, but could not score.

"We didn't execute today and we left way too many runners on base," said head coach Trena Peel. "We didn't get the hits at the right times and we made some mental errors in the field late in the game, which cost us."

Senior Tori Speckman picked up the loss as she went the distance, pitching all eight innings. Marla Gooding recorded the win for Toledo in relief. The Bulls had seven hits from seven different players, getting extra base hits from Taylor and her classmate Savanna Norcio.

Prior to today's game, the Bulls honored their five-member senior class recognizing Gallardo, Speckman, Heather Ryder, Tori Pettine and Holly Luciano.

UB will now end the regular season with six straight on the road beginning next Friday at Western Michigan with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm.