Softball Opens Season at Lion Classic

Friday, February 7

Hammond, LA

1:00 pm

University at Buffalo

UT Martin

Softball Opens Season at Lion Classic

2/6/2020 11:24:00 AM | Softball

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo softball team will open up their 2020 campaign at the Lion Classic, hosted by Southeastern Louisiana University, on Friday. UB will take part in five games this weekend in Hammond, Louisiana.

"The last few weeks we've been putting in a lot of hard work and getting a lot more reps in and you can see improvement in a lot of areas," said head coach Mike Ruechel. "The fieldhouse has been a huge advantage as we are getting on average 300-400 more swings in per week and then on top of that we've had the ability to go in depth in practicing our defensive situations. We are really excited to get things going and we're ready for the competitive part of the season."

The Bulls are coming off a 10-32-1 campaign last year, including a 6-10-1 mark in MAC play. Buffalo will return 11 players from last season led by first team All-MAC selections Anna Aguon and Jenelle Martinez. Aguon posted a .382 batting average to go along with a team-high 13 doubles, five home runs, 18 RBI and a team-best 25 runs scored, while leading the team with a .603 slugging percentage and a .444 on base percentage. Martinez recorded a .317 batting average to go along with four home runs, five doubles, a team-best 20 RBI and 20 runs scored while recording a .455 slugging percentage and .411 on base percentage.

UB returns its top five hitters from a season ago. In addition to Aguon and Martinez, the Bulls return All-Freshman team selection Alexis Matheney who posted a .248 batting average to go along with a team-best seven home runs, eight doubles and tied for the team lead in RBI (20) and runs scored (25), while recording a .488 slugging and .401 on base percentage. Also returning is Alicia Peters who was one of three Bulls to start all 43 games, while recording a .229 batting average to go along with 10 doubles, 17 RBI and 18 runs scored. Junior Gabby Keller posted a .309 batting average to go along with five doubles, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored in 36 games last season.

Buffalo's pitching staff underwent a complete overhaul in the offseason with the graduation or transfer of its entire rotation. There will be a host of new faces in the circle for UB this season including Alexis Lucyshyn, Madelyn Hickingbottom, Mykaela Martin and Cara Leone.

Also playing in their first collegiate weekend for the Bulls will be Brianna Castro, Sydney Bielicki, Abigail Vincent, Sara Holland, Kacey Pearce and Toni Cunningham.

The Bulls will begin the session at 1pm on Friday against UT Martin before taking on the host Southeastern Louisiana at 5pm. On Saturday, Buffalo will open up play at 3pm as they take on Grambling State before wrapping up day two against the Lions at 5pm. UB rounds out their opening weekend with an 11am contest against Alabama State.

For the latest updates and behind the scenes look at the Buffalo softball program, make sure to follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @UBBullssoftball.