Bulls Fall to Niagara in Midweek Doubleheader

Tuesday, March 26

Buffalo, N.Y.

1 p.m.

11-14

Niagara

8-11

Niagara

Buffalo

Bulls Fall to Niagara in Midweek Doubleheader

3/26/2024 7:42:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Zach Monell

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo softball team (11-15, 3-2 MAC) was swept by the Niagara Purple Eagles (9-11, 2-1 MAAC) on Tuesday afternoon at Nan Harvey Field.

The Bulls and Purple Eagles played a nine-inning thriller in game one that Niagara snatched away from Buffalo. After a scoreless first three innings, the Bulls broke the drought after a bases loaded walk by Lily Lauck to put the Bulls on top, 1-0.

The Purple Eagles answered right back in the top of the fifth with two runs of their own. In the bottom of the sixth, the Bulls started the inning with a Sara Kelly single to center field and advanced to second off a fielding error. Lyla Ambrose hit a single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Ambrose stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Lily Lauck then hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Kelly and tied the game at two. Madison Fernimen gave the Bulls the 3-2 lead with a rip to left field.

With just three outs to go to secure the victory, the Purple Eagles had other plans. The lead off batter drove a deep fly ball to center field that cleared the fence to tie the game at three. The Bulls didn't answer in the bottom half of the inning as they game then went to extras.

Both teams went down in order in the eighth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, the Bulls walked in the go ahead run. In the bottom of the ninth and two outs, Alexis Lucyshyn walked to give the Bulls life. The Purple Eagles took home the 4-3 win after a pop up to short ended the game.

The Purple Eagles' offense exploded in the first inning of the second game. Niagara scored four runs in the inning and extended their lead in the second inning as they led, 7-0.

The Bulls got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Abbey Nagel led Buffalo off with a hit by pitch. After a pair of groundouts advanced Nagel to third base, Ambrose drove in Nagel with a single to left field. Alyssa Wasielewski and Fernimen walked to load the bases. Tianna Williams cleared the bases with a single to left field. A fielding error caused all the Bulls on base to score and cut Niagara's lead down to 7-4.

After a 1-2-3 top of the third, the Bulls added two runs to their tally after a Niagara pitching change. The Purple Eagles still led, 7-6.

With rain starting to come down in the fourth inning, the Bulls unfortunate errors were costly. Niagara scored three runs on three hits and two errors as they took a 10-6 lead. Niagara added another run in the top of the fifth inning to make it 11-6.

The Bulls cut into Niagara's lead as they scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Nagel led the inning off with a single to right field and advanced to second on a fielding error. Lauck drove in Nagel to make it 11-7. Wasielewski reached base after a fielding error by the third baseman to put two runners on with Fernimen up to the plate. Fernimen drove in Lauck and Wasielewski to make it an 11-9 ball game.

After a scoreless sixth, the Purple Eagles added to their lead in the seventh after a home run and RBI single. Down 13-9 in the Ambrose singled up the middle to give hope to the Bulls. Wasielewski then tripled to right center to score Ambrose. That'd be all the offense the Bulls could get in the final inning as Niagara won, 13-10.

The Bulls are back in action on Friday when they host the Miami (OH) RedHawks at 1 p.m. The series will carry over to Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.