Bulls Honor Seniors At Season Finale

Saturday, May 7

1 pm

University at Buffalo

17-36, 9-13

Miami (OH)

29-21, 14-7

Miami (OH)

Buffalo

Bulls Honor Seniors At Season Finale

5/7/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo softball team honored its two seniors Lauren Gambone and Kenzie Koch on Saturday afternoon as the Bulls wrapped up the 2016 season. UB dropped a pair of games to Miami (OH), closing out its campaign with a 17-37 record and a 9-14 mark in MAC play. It is just the fifth time in school history that the Bulls will finish a season with at least nine conference wins.

The RedHawks won the opening game of the doubleheader 6-2, breaking through with three runs in the top of the third. The Bulls got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as junior Savanna Norcio doubled to center field and then she advanced to third on a single by freshman Katie Weimer. With runners on the corners, a wild pitch allowed Norcio to score from third.

Miami answered with three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 6-1 lead, but UB answered with one in the bottom of the fifth as freshman Courtney Gilbert opened the frame with a double to right center. After moving to third, Gilbert came in to score on a double to right field by Norcio.

The Bulls would get no closer than 6-2 as sophomore Charlotte Miller picked up the loss allowing five hits and three runs in 3.0 innings. UB got 1.1 innings of work from Ally Power and 2.2 innings of one-hit relief from freshman Brieanna Baker. Norcio led the Bulls offensively with a 2-for-4 performance from the plate.

In the second game of the doubleheader, UB got off to a good start, but Miami erupted for 16 runs and 18 hits in six innings. UB put up a four-spot in the bottom of the first taking advantage of some defensive miscues by the RedHawks.

The Bulls loaded the bases with nobody out and they scored two on a throwing error by the Miami shortstop, who tried to get the fielder's choice out at home. Another throwing error by the shortstop on the next play, scored the third UB run. Gambone came in to score the fourth run of the inning on a wild pitch after a walk to Sarah Edwards.

However, with UB leading 4-0, Miami answered in a big way in the top of the second as the RedHawks scored eight runs, four coming via the long ball. The Bulls went through three pitchers in the inning as Baker replaced starter Lace Smith and freshman Taylor Light came in to replace Baker. In the top of the third, Miami hit another home run, which put redshirt junior Bobbi Langlois in the game. Miami scored three in the top of the third to take an 11-4 lead.

The Bulls scored one in the bottom of the third as Koch hit a leadoff single and went on to steal second. Following a walk to Edwards, sophomore Danielle Lallos singled through the left side to load the bases. Gilbert then reached by fielder's choice, scoring Koch from third. Miami added one run in the top of the fifth and four runs in the top of the sixth as they took a 16-5 lead. Sophomore Leandra Jew hit a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn't get any more as the game came to an end.

Smith picked up the loss as she allowed five runs in just 1.1 innings of work. Langlois worked 3.2 innings and allowed five runs, but just one of those was earned. Norcio and Jew each finished with two-hit games in the nightcap of the doubleheader.

"This wasn't the story book ending that we'd hope for, but I'm grateful for the journey that we had this season and I couldn't have asked for a better group of girls to coach," said head coach Trena Peel. "Nothing was easy this year, but through it all I am proud of their growth mentally and physically."