Bulls Split Doubleheader At Toledo

Friday, April 24

Toledo, OH

1 pm

University at Buffalo

10-33, 2-11

Toledo

19-28, 4-11

Buffalo

Toledo Rockets

4/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

TOLEDO, OH – The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, softball team, split a pair of games at Toledo on Friday, winning the opener 2-1 before falling in the second game in extra innings, 4-3.

UB rode the hot-hand of starting pitcher Bobbi Langlois, who allowed just one unearned run in the opening game. Toledo got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning, but UB answered in the top of the third, which included another double from senior Alexis Curtiss, who moved to third on a single up the middle from freshman Savanna Norcio. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, which scored Curtiss.

The game remained tied into the fifth as senior Karly Nevez opened the inning with a single to center field. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and another bunt moved her to third base. Nevez came in to score on an illegal pitch, which gave UB the 2-1 lead.

The Bulls continued to hold the advantage into the bottom of the seventh when they used some solid defense to preserve the win. The Rockets put runners at second and third with nobody out, but the Bulls got an unassisted double play when third baseman Lauren Gambone snagged a line drive and doubled up the runner at third. A line drive to shortstop ended the game.

Langlois picked up her sixth win of the year as she allowed eight hits and just one unearned run, while striking out two. Nevez went 3-for-3 in the game, while Norcio went 2-for-3 in the contest.

In the second game, the Bulls were unable to hold on to a late 3-1 lead as Toledo scored two in the seventh and one more in the eighth. The Bulls got on the board first as Curtiss singled to lead off the game and scored on a steal of home.

The Rockets tied it up in the bottom of the second, but a solo home run from Curtiss in the top of the third put the Bulls back ahead. UB added another run in the top of the fifth as sophomore Ashton Earnhardt singled to left and then stole second. She came in to score on a double from freshman Makyla Kowaliuk, who came on as a pinch hitter.

UB held the 3-1 lead into the seventh inning, but the Rockets put two in scoring position and with two outs, they got a two-run triple to tie the game up. UB had its chance in the eighth inning as senior Hayley Barrow opened up the inning with a double and the Bulls put two in scoring position with one out, but a pair of strikeouts, with a walk in between, ended the inning. In the bottom of the eighth, Toledo put a runner at third with one out, who came in to score on a bunt single, giving the Rockets the walk-off win.

Langlois picked up the loss in the game as she went the distance in the circle. Curtiss went 3-for-3 with a walk as she also had a double and a home run. The double was her league-leading 22^nd of the year. Gambone went 2-for-4 in the contest.

"It was great to start the day off with a win," said head coach Trena Peel. "My girls player their hearts out today. We fought until the last out. Bobbi threw 15 strong innings and she put us in position to win both games today. I thought we swung the bats well as Alexis was on fire all day and Karly drove the ball hard every at bat. Our pinch hitters Madison, Makayla, and Sarah all did their jobs at the plate. Losing in the bottom of the eighth in game two left a bad taste in my mouth. Hopefully, it will make us hungrier for tomorrow against BG."

The Bulls open their two-game series with Bowling Green tomorrow at 1:00 pm. The game was moved up an hour due to weather forecasted in the Bowling Green area for later in the day.