Bulls Take Down Evansville In Extra Innings, 14-13

Sunday, March 1

11:30 am

University at Buffalo

4-11

Evansville

4-14

Buffalo

Evansville

Bulls Take Down Evansville In Extra Innings, 14-13

3/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

MACON, GA – The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, softball team ended the weekend on a positive note as the Bulls ended the Black and Orange Challenge with a 14-13 victory over Evansville in extra innings. The win improved the Bulls to 4-11 on the year.

Evansville scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but the Bulls answered in the third as sophomore Ashton Earnhardt hit a solo home run, pulling the Bulls within 2-1. The Purple Aces scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third and the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-1 lead, but the Bulls fought back.

UB loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth as sophomore Savanna Norcio drove in a run with a walk and senior Alexis Curtiss drove in a pair of runs as she reached on an error. UB scored three more times in the sixth inning as singles from senior Nora McGuire, as well as Earnhardt and Norcio, gave the Bulls a 7-6 lead. However, Evansville scored five in the bottom of the sixth to take an 11-7 advantage.

In the top of the seventh, not only did the Bulls erase the four-run deficit, but erupted for six runs in the frame to take a 13-11 lead. Junior Lauren Gambone opened the inning with a home run to center field and then the Bulls loaded the bases with one out. Freshman Leandra Jew drove in a pair as she doubled to center field and Earnhardt drove in two more with a double down the left field line. A third straight double from Norcio drove in Earnhardt for the sixth run of the inning.

UB was unable to close it out in the bottom of the seventh as Evansville scored two more to tie the game up at 13-13 and send it to extra innings. Gambone was placed on second due to the international tiebreaker rule and she moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Freshman Danielle Lallos singled up the left side to drive in Gambone as UB took the lead. The Bulls were then able to retire the side in order in the eighth for the win.

Redshirt sophomore Bobbi Langlois picked up her first win of the season as she pitched 5.1 innings. Her and freshman Charlotte Miller both struck out three batters in the contest.

Earnhardt went 4-for-5 from the leadoff spot with four runs batted in to lead UB offensively. Norcio and Gambone each finished with two-hit games, while Norcio added three RBIs and Curtiss and Jew each drove in two runs.

This is the seventh time in 15 games that UB has recorded at least 10 hits, including the last three games.

"Thankfully February is behind us and now March is here and we have a new mindset," said head coach Trena Peel. "I have a team full of fighters that never quit. We believe in ourselves regardless of the results that we have been getting and today our fight paid off. I'm proud of Bobbi for coming back in an closing out the game for us today."

The Bulls are now off until Mar. 13 when they begin their long spring trip to the West Coast, beginning at the Cal St.-Northridge Tournament.