Bulls Place Three On All-MAC First Team
5/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo softball team continued to racked up the awards on Tuesday afternoon as three UB players were named to the All-MAC First Team, the first time that three players have been honored postseason. Seniors Tori Speckman, Holly Luciano, and Sammi Gallardo were all honored after they led the Bulls to their first ever Mid-American Conference East Division Title.
Prior to this season, only three UB players had ever been named to the first team since UB began MAC play in 2001: Alexis Curtiss (2012), Stacey Evans (2004) and Breanne Nasti (2002,2003).
"I am proud of all three of these seniors and they all deserve this honor," said head coach Trena Peel. "They are our leaders and they are a big reason for our success this year."
Speckman, who was named to one of the two pitcher spots on the first team, enters the MAC Tournament with a 19-11 record, including a 9-3 mark in Mid-American Conference games. Speckman ended the regular season with wins in five straight games and she pitched two no hitters on the year, both in MAC play. Speckman began the conference season with a no hitter against Ohio and then had another one this past weekend against Kent State. Speckman's 19 wins this season set a new single-season school record, five more than the previous high. Speckman enters the MAC Tournament having pitched in 206.2 innings, second most in a single season. She becomes just the second UB pitcher to strikeout over 200 in a season and is currently just two shy of the school record. She has thrown eight shutouts this year, the second most in a single season. Speckman was most recently named the MAC East Pitcher of the Week for the second straight week and she finished 2014 having been given that award five times.
Luciano was named to one of the three outfield spots on the first team, the first time she has been honored in the postseason since her freshman year. Luciano hit a team-high .350 as she drove in 32 runs this season, second most on the team. She had a well-rounded year as she finished with seven doubles, four triples and four home runs. Luciano was one of just two players this year that has appeared in all 47 games, starting all but one of them. She was one of UB's biggest offensive threats right from the very start of the season as she drove in nine runs during the opening weekend of play to be named MAC East Player of the Week.
Gallardo made the first team as an at-large selection. She has had one of the best offensive years in school history as she helped lead the Bulls to their first ever MAC East Division Title. Gallardo hit a career-high .336 on the season, setting a school record with 15 home runs on the year. She became both the single-season and career home runs leads during the season. Gallardo has had a strong finish to the regular season, hitting safely in 21 of the final 23 games. Gallardo finished with seven off those home runs in just 10 home games. In conference games only, Gallardo hit .382 and finished third in the MAC with an .855 slugging percentage. She finished tied for the league lead with seven home runs in conference play and overall her 15 home runs were second in the league. Twice this season Gallardo was named the MAC East Player of the Week.
The Bulls enter tomorrow's MAC Tournament as the number two seed. They face seventh-seeded Northern Illinois in the opening round at 5:00 pm at Firstone Stadium in Akron, OH.
