Softball Opens 2015 With Friday Split

Friday, February 6

9:30 am

University at Buffalo

1-1

Western Ky.

0-1

Buffalo

Alabama State

Softball Opens 2015 With Friday Split

2/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

TROY, AL – The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, softball team opened the 2015 season on Friday, splitting its two games on the day. UB dropped the opener 8-0 to Western Kentucky before coming back to defeat Alabama State, 11-8, in eight innings.

The Bulls started five players who had never taken the field for UB in the opener and they struggled offensively as the Bulls managed just two hits in six innings, both doubles from senior Alexis Curtiss. Curtiss led off the game with a double to left field and advanced to third on a passed ball, but UB was unable to drive her home.

The game remained scoreless into the bottom of the third when Western Kentucky scored three runs before a double play got the Bulls out of the jam. Curtiss again doubled with one out in the top of the sixth and UB put two runners in scoring position, but couldn't cross the plate.

Western Kentucky scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth, with the last four coming on a grand slam to end the game. Redshirt sophomore Bobbi Langlois picked up the loss as she went the complete game, striking out three. Curtiss reached base all three times with a pair of doubles and a hit by pitch.

In the second game, Alabama State scored the first three runs of the game and held on to a 3-0 lead into the third inning before the Bulls would answer. UB put the first two runners on, including the first career hit from freshman Leandra Jew. The Bulls continued to have two runners in scoring position with two outs when senior Hayley Barrow, singled down the left field line to score a pair. UB tied the game up as Barrow was driven in on a single from freshman Sarah Edwards.

UB added a run in the top of the fourth as Curtiss drove in Jew with a two-out double to right center and the Bulls added another run in the fifth following an Alabama St. error. UB scored two more in the top of the sixth as another double from Curtiss scored Jew and a double from Barrow drove in Curtiss.

However, despite taking a four run lead into the seventh, Alabama State was able to score four runs and send the game to extra frames.

With the international tie-breaker rule in effect, Jew began the eighth inning at second and moved to third following a fly out. After a walk to sophomore Ashton Earnhardt, junior Lauren Gambone gave the Bulls the lead again with a single up the middle. A double from Barrow drove in Earnhardt and then junior Kenzie Koch continued her solid day with a double to right center, driving in two. Alabama State scored one in the bottom of the eighth, but UB was able to hold on for the first win of the year.

Freshman Charlotte Miller picked up her first career win as she struck out three in 5.0 innings of work. Curtiss, Barrow, Koch, and Jew each had three-hit games as the Bulls finished with 17 hits in the contest. Curtiss and Barrow each had a pair of doubles as Curtiss finished the day today with four doubles in the two games.

Gambone, Jew, and Edwards each recorded their first hits in a UB uniform as Jew had three hits and Gambone finished with two.

"It was a rough day for us today, but we ended up with a win," said second-year head coach Trena Peel. "The girls bounced back in game two today and we swung the bats really well."

The Bulls will continue play at the Troy Chick-Fil-A Invite tomorrow as they face North Florida at 10:30 am EST and then the host Troy Trojans at 3:30 pm EST.