Saturday, April 6
Buffalo, N.Y.
1 p.m.
12-18, 4-5
7
vs
6
Ball State
15-21, 2-8
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2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Ball State
1
0
2
0
0
1
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6
11
3
Buffalo
2
0
0
3
0
2
X
7
8
3
Photo by: Ken Smith/UBBulls.com
Bulls and Cardinals Split Saturday Doubleheader
4/6/2024 7:24:00 PM | Softball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo softball team (12-19, 4-6 MAC) split their Saturday doubleheader against the visiting Ball State Cardinals (16-21, 3-8 MAC). The Bulls won game one, 7-6, but then fell in the second game in extras, 13-9.
The Bulls won a thrilling first game against the Ball State Cardinals, 7-6. The Cardinals jumped on top, 1-0, after a home run to right field in the first inning. Buffalo answered back in the bottom half of the inning as they took a 2-1 lead. Abbey Nagel hit a sharp ground ball to second base and hustled down the line. Nagel was able to force a bad throw as the ball got away from the first baseman to score Alexis Lucyshyn and Madison Fernimen.
Ball State took back the lead in the third inning. After a lead off triple, a single through the left side tied the game at 2. Timely hitting by the Cardinals gave the visitors 3-2 lead after an RBI single to right field.
A three-run fourth for the Bulls have them a 5-3 advantage. Sara Kelly scored after she was walked by a Reagan Terwilliger double to right field. This marked Terwilliger's first hit of the season. With Terwilliger and Fernimen in scoring position, Terwilliger scored on a pass ball with Tianna Williams at the plate. Williams then hit in Fernimen with an RBI single up the middle.
The Cardinals threatened in the sixth inning after an RBI double made it a 5-4 game. With runners in scoring position, the next batter walked to load the bases with two outs. A fly out to left center ended the top of the sixth.
Buffalo added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom half of the sixth to extend their lead, 7-4. Kelly reached first base on an infield single and would stay there as the Cardinals recorded two straight outs. Fernimen drove in Kelly with a double to center. Williams singled to left that scored Fernimen from second.
Lucyshyn started the seventh inning off with a strikeout. She then allowed a walk and a single up the middle. The Bulls got their second out of the inning with a force out at second base but would allow a run on an errant throw as the Bulls tried to turn two to end the game. Ball State hit an RBI double to right center to make it a 7-6 game, but Lucyshyn called game with a strikeout to end it.
Game two was a slugfest between the Bulls and Cardinals. In just the first inning, there were five total runs scored, the advantage going to the Bulls with a 3-2 lead. In the bottom half of the first, an errant throw by the third baseman scored Fernimen from second base. A few batters later, Mia Mitchell sent a two-run homer to left center.
After a one, two, three top of the second, the Bulls added to their lead in the bottom half. With the bases loaded, Lucyshyn forced in a run after a groundout to the pitcher. Mitchell's bat stayed hot as she drove in Fernimen to give the Bulls a 5-2 lead.
The Cardinals were able to steal a pair of runs in the fourth inning. With runners on the corners, the runner stole second and ball was sailed into center field allowing the runner from third to score. An infield single didn't slow down Ball State from letting the runner on second round the bases as she made it a 5-4 Buffalo lead. Buffalo extended their lead after a Lucyshyn RBI double made it 6-4.
It was a sloppy fifth inning for the Bulls as they allowed four runs on five hits. This included a base clearing double to put the Cardinals on top, 8-6. Lyla Ambrose tied the game at 8 after a two-run home run. The momentum carried over to the bottom of the sixth inning for the Bulls as Fernimen gave UB a 9-8 lead after a solo homer.
With just three out to go from sweeping the Cardinals, the opposition had other plans. With runners on first and second, the runners advanced on a wild pitch to put the go-ahead run-in scoring position. Later in the at bat, a single through the left side tied the game at 9. The Bulls couldn't walk it off in the bottom of the seventh as the game went to the eighth inning.
The Cardinals capitalized on a bases loaded situation as a grand slam put the Cardinals in front, 13-9. Buffalo went down in order as the Cardinals took home the win.
The Bulls and Cardinals are back at it tomorrow at noon to close out the series.
The Bulls won a thrilling first game against the Ball State Cardinals, 7-6. The Cardinals jumped on top, 1-0, after a home run to right field in the first inning. Buffalo answered back in the bottom half of the inning as they took a 2-1 lead. Abbey Nagel hit a sharp ground ball to second base and hustled down the line. Nagel was able to force a bad throw as the ball got away from the first baseman to score Alexis Lucyshyn and Madison Fernimen.
Ball State took back the lead in the third inning. After a lead off triple, a single through the left side tied the game at 2. Timely hitting by the Cardinals gave the visitors 3-2 lead after an RBI single to right field.
A three-run fourth for the Bulls have them a 5-3 advantage. Sara Kelly scored after she was walked by a Reagan Terwilliger double to right field. This marked Terwilliger's first hit of the season. With Terwilliger and Fernimen in scoring position, Terwilliger scored on a pass ball with Tianna Williams at the plate. Williams then hit in Fernimen with an RBI single up the middle.
The Cardinals threatened in the sixth inning after an RBI double made it a 5-4 game. With runners in scoring position, the next batter walked to load the bases with two outs. A fly out to left center ended the top of the sixth.
Buffalo added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom half of the sixth to extend their lead, 7-4. Kelly reached first base on an infield single and would stay there as the Cardinals recorded two straight outs. Fernimen drove in Kelly with a double to center. Williams singled to left that scored Fernimen from second.
Lucyshyn started the seventh inning off with a strikeout. She then allowed a walk and a single up the middle. The Bulls got their second out of the inning with a force out at second base but would allow a run on an errant throw as the Bulls tried to turn two to end the game. Ball State hit an RBI double to right center to make it a 7-6 game, but Lucyshyn called game with a strikeout to end it.
Game two was a slugfest between the Bulls and Cardinals. In just the first inning, there were five total runs scored, the advantage going to the Bulls with a 3-2 lead. In the bottom half of the first, an errant throw by the third baseman scored Fernimen from second base. A few batters later, Mia Mitchell sent a two-run homer to left center.
After a one, two, three top of the second, the Bulls added to their lead in the bottom half. With the bases loaded, Lucyshyn forced in a run after a groundout to the pitcher. Mitchell's bat stayed hot as she drove in Fernimen to give the Bulls a 5-2 lead.
The Cardinals were able to steal a pair of runs in the fourth inning. With runners on the corners, the runner stole second and ball was sailed into center field allowing the runner from third to score. An infield single didn't slow down Ball State from letting the runner on second round the bases as she made it a 5-4 Buffalo lead. Buffalo extended their lead after a Lucyshyn RBI double made it 6-4.
It was a sloppy fifth inning for the Bulls as they allowed four runs on five hits. This included a base clearing double to put the Cardinals on top, 8-6. Lyla Ambrose tied the game at 8 after a two-run home run. The momentum carried over to the bottom of the sixth inning for the Bulls as Fernimen gave UB a 9-8 lead after a solo homer.
With just three out to go from sweeping the Cardinals, the opposition had other plans. With runners on first and second, the runners advanced on a wild pitch to put the go-ahead run-in scoring position. Later in the at bat, a single through the left side tied the game at 9. The Bulls couldn't walk it off in the bottom of the seventh as the game went to the eighth inning.
The Cardinals capitalized on a bases loaded situation as a grand slam put the Cardinals in front, 13-9. Buffalo went down in order as the Cardinals took home the win.
The Bulls and Cardinals are back at it tomorrow at noon to close out the series.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lucyshyn, Alexis (8-7)
L: MURPHY, Bridie (6-8)
Batting:
2B: ROSS, Remington 1 ; PIETRZAK, Maia 1
3B: LOVETT, Ashlee 1
HR: TIMMONS, McKayla 1
RBI: ROSS, Remington 1 ; TIMMONS, McKayla 2 ; MULHOLLAND, McKenna 1 ; PIETRZAK, Maia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LOVETT, Ashlee 1 ; TIMMONS, McKayla 2 ; MULHOLLAND, McKenna 1 ; WEAVER, Maddie 1 ; MATA, Samantha-Jo 1
SB: TIMMONS, McKayla 1
Batting:
2B: Fernimen, Madison 1 ; Terwilliger, Reagan 1
RBI: Fernimen, Madison 1 ; Williams, Tianna 2 ; Terwilliger, Reagan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fernimen, Madison 3 ; Lucyshyn, Alexis 1 ; Kelly, Sara 2 ; Terwilliger, Reagan 1
SB: Mitchell, Mia 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
3
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ SoftballIF/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballP/1B
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
OF/UTL
/ Softball2B/SS
/ SoftballUB Softball vs. Akron Double Header (4/30) @ 1pm
Thursday, April 24
UB Softball vs. Canisius Double Header (4/23) @ 1pm
Tuesday, April 22
UB Softball vs. Toledo (4/20) @ 12pm
Monday, April 14
UB Softball vs. Northern Illinois doubleheader (4/12) @ 1pm
Thursday, April 10
