Bulls Defeat Northern Illinois to Advance To First MAC Championship Game
5/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
AKRON, OH - The University at Buffalo softball team advanced to its first MAC Softball Championship game on Saturday with a 7-2 victory over Northern Illinois to stave off elimination. The Bulls will have a rematch with Ohio for the title.
The Bulls exploded with six runs in the third inning as they sent 11 batters to the plate. Sophomore Ryleigh Fitzgerald contributed with two hits in the inning, leading off with a triple to left field. Senior Holly Luciano then a hit a ball right back in front of the plate, which drove in the first run and both Luciano and senior Sammi Gallardo were aggressive on the bases, each moving into scoring position. The second triple of the inning off the bat of junior Alexis Curtiss drove in the pair and freshman Savanna Norcio singled to right field for the fourth run of the inning. Ashton Earnhardt reached on a single and two runs moved into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt from Karly Nevz. Senior Heather Ryder then came on as a pinch hitter and singled up the middle to score both runs.
Northern Illinois scored single runs in the bottom of the third and the bottom of the fourth, but the Bulls tacked on another run in the top of the seventh as Curtiss opened the frame with a single. A double from junior Hayley Barrow moved two into scoring position and freshman Jessica Taylor drove in the run as she reached base on an error.
Speckman improved to 22-12 on the season as she went all seven innings and allowed five hits and two runs. Curtiss went 2-for-4 from the plate, with two runs batted in as she paced the 11-hit effort. Fitzgerald went 2-for-2 from the plate with both hits in the six-run third.
"This is exciting for our program and I am happy with the way we came out today after last night," said head coach Trena Peel. "We are excited to be playing for a championship this afternoon."
The Bulls need to defeat Ohio twice to claim a MAC Title. The championship game will air on Time Warner Cable Sports and ESPN3.
