Bulls Split Home-Opening Doubleheader

Wednesday, April 9

4 pm

University at Buffalo

16-16

Niagara

11-15

Niagara

Buffalo

Bulls Split Home-Opening Doubleheader

4/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo softball team played 31 straight games on the road, so nothing was going to stop them from getting their home opener in on Wednesday. Not a one-hour delay prior to game one and certainly not darkness in game two. Niagara took the first game 9-8, while the Bulls won the second game 6-3 in five innings before the game was called due to darkness. UB is now 17-16 on the year.

Niagara 9, Buffalo 8

The visiting Niagara Purple Eagles raced out to a 6-1 lead in the opener on Wednesday, taking advantage of some early walks with the bases loaded. A double in the second inning from freshman Ashton Earnhardt drove in the first run of the game and the Bulls scored the second on a bases loaded walk to Holly Luciano in the third.

UB continued to cut into the Niagara lead as senior Sammi Gallardo hit the first of three home runs on the day, hitting a two-run shot to center field in the fourth inning. The home run pulled the Bulls within 6-4.

Niagara scored three runs in the top of the sixth, but overall UB got a good performance in relief from pitcher Nicole Aviles, who struck out eight batters in four innings, without walking a batter. Gallardo's second home run of the game in the bottom of the sixth pulled the Bulls within 9-5 and UB made one last push in the seventh.

The Bulls put two in scoring position with one out as senior Tori Pettine tripled down the right field line, scoring two runs. Pettine came in to score on an RBI ground out from Gallardo, but the Bulls finished one run short.

Senior Heather Ryder picked up the loss as she went 3.0 innings, allowing six runs, five of those earned. The Bulls did finish with 10 hits in the game, including a 3-for-5 performance from Gallardo, who drove in four runs. Sophomore Ryleigh Fitzgerald also had a solid day from the plate as she finished 3-for-4. The two home runs from Gallardo marked just the sixth time in school history that a player has hit two home runs in the same game and the first time since 2008.

Buffalo 6, Niagara 3 - 5 Innings

With the first game taking over two and a half hours to play, the second game started just before 7:00pm and darkness was going to be an issue from the very start. The Bulls got off to a quick start in the contest though, scoring four runs in the first inning.

The Bulls staged a two-out rally that began after Savanna Norcio was hit by a pitch. With two runners on, Luciano tripled to left center, driving in both runs. Luciano came in to score on a double steal and Earnhardt then came in to score on an infield single by Fitzgerald.

The Purple Eagles cut the UB lead in half in the top of the second, but Gallardo used the long ball again in the bottom half with a solo shot to left field, giving UB the 5-3 lead through two. The Bulls added another run in the bottom of the third as Earnhardt doubled home Luciano. Niagara scored one run in the top of the fifth to pull within, 6-3, but darkness prevailed as the fifth inning would be the final one.

The Bulls got a solid performance in the circle from junior Hayley Barrow, who had pitched just 8.0 total innings entering today. She picked up her first win as she pitched all 5.0 innings, allowing just three hits and striking out one.

UB had 10 more hits against Niagara starter Bridget Hogan. Fitzgerald, Earnhardt and Luciano each finished with two hits. Earnhardt had a pair of doubles in the game, while Luciano finished with a double and a triple. Five of the 10 hits went for extra bases.

The Bulls remain home on Friday afternoon when they host Central Michigan for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm.