Friday, February 20
Fort Myers, Fla.
12:15 p.m.
University at Buffalo
3-7
6
vs
3
UConn
2-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Buffalo
3
0
1
1
0
1
0
6
6
3
UConn
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
3
7
1
Bulls Beat UConn, Fall to Louisville in Opening Day of Gulf Coast Classic
2/20/2026 6:59:00 PM | Softball
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The University at Buffalo softball team (3-9, 0-0 MAC) took down the UConn Huskies in their first game of the Gulf Coast Classic hosted by FGCU. In game two, the Bulls fell to the Louisville Cardinals, 10-6.
GAME 1 VS. UCONN
To open the weekend, the Bulls took down the reigning BIG EAST Champion UConn Huskies, 6-3. The offense went to work right away. Reagan Terwilliger worked a walk as Nicole Allen was hit by a pitch in the next at bat. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, but it didn't matter as Bella Smithson cranked a three-run home run to deep center field to put the Bulls ahead 3-0 in the top of the first inning. Buffalo looked to add to their lead as Abbey Nagel singled up the middle, followed by a Bri Delaney walk. The Huskies got out of the jam on a ground out and a fly out to center.
In the bottom of the first, the Huskies led the inning off with a walk, but was thrown out trying to take second base by Smithson.
The score remained 3-0 until the top of the third when Delaney hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Miranda Zipp. Leading 4-0 in the fourth, Buffalo added to their lead as Tabitha von Kolen scored on a wild pitch.
Olivia Russ was dealing from the circle as she only allowed one hit through four innings of play.
The Huskies got on the board in the fifth inning as a fielding error allowed two runs to score.
Leading 5-2 in the top of the sixth, the Bulls responded as Emily Gorman scored from second base after a fielding error as Allen put the ball in play.
UConn cut into Buffalo's lead as an RBI-single made it a 6-3 game. That's all the offense they could muster as the Bulls took home the 6-3 win.
Russ threw 10th career complete game as she allowed one earned run on seven hits and two walks. She struck out four Huskies in the win.
Smithson led the Bulls from the dish going 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs. Ardyn Hopf, Gorman, Nagel and Terwilliger also recorded hits.
GAME 2 VS. LOUISVILLE
Buffalo gave the Cardinals a fight despite falling, 10-6. After a scoreless first inning, the Cardinals scored a run in both the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Bulls' bats ignited as they scored six runs to take a 6-2 lead. Tabitha von Kolen had a lead-off single followed by Reagan Terwilliger slapping a hit through the left side of the infield. Emily Gorman kept the party going as she loaded the bases with a single up the middle. Nicole Allen then ripped a single to center field that scored von Kolen and Terwilliger to tie the game at 2. Bella Smithson loaded the bases back up with a single to left. After forcing a pitching change with no outs, Abbey Nagel reached base on an error by the shortstop that scored Gorman to put the Bulls in front, 3-2. Bri Delaney reached on a fielder's choice, but with a throwing error, everyone was safe as Allen and Smithson scored on the play. With runners in scoring position, Ardyn Hopf singled to left that scored Nagel. The Bulls tried to extend their lead, but a play at the plate resulted in the first out of the inning. The next two batters were retired by the Cardinals as the Bulls led 6-2.
Louisville inflicted damage in the next three innings, resulting in eight runs on 11 hits and two walks. Buffalo's timely hitting went cold as they fell, 10-6.
Nagel and Gorman each had two hits in the game as Allen led the Bulls with two RBIs.
The Bulls' schedule this weekend will be as follows:
Click here for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
GAME 1 VS. UCONN
To open the weekend, the Bulls took down the reigning BIG EAST Champion UConn Huskies, 6-3. The offense went to work right away. Reagan Terwilliger worked a walk as Nicole Allen was hit by a pitch in the next at bat. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, but it didn't matter as Bella Smithson cranked a three-run home run to deep center field to put the Bulls ahead 3-0 in the top of the first inning. Buffalo looked to add to their lead as Abbey Nagel singled up the middle, followed by a Bri Delaney walk. The Huskies got out of the jam on a ground out and a fly out to center.
In the bottom of the first, the Huskies led the inning off with a walk, but was thrown out trying to take second base by Smithson.
The score remained 3-0 until the top of the third when Delaney hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Miranda Zipp. Leading 4-0 in the fourth, Buffalo added to their lead as Tabitha von Kolen scored on a wild pitch.
Olivia Russ was dealing from the circle as she only allowed one hit through four innings of play.
The Huskies got on the board in the fifth inning as a fielding error allowed two runs to score.
Leading 5-2 in the top of the sixth, the Bulls responded as Emily Gorman scored from second base after a fielding error as Allen put the ball in play.
UConn cut into Buffalo's lead as an RBI-single made it a 6-3 game. That's all the offense they could muster as the Bulls took home the 6-3 win.
Russ threw 10th career complete game as she allowed one earned run on seven hits and two walks. She struck out four Huskies in the win.
Smithson led the Bulls from the dish going 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs. Ardyn Hopf, Gorman, Nagel and Terwilliger also recorded hits.
GAME 2 VS. LOUISVILLE
Buffalo gave the Cardinals a fight despite falling, 10-6. After a scoreless first inning, the Cardinals scored a run in both the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Bulls' bats ignited as they scored six runs to take a 6-2 lead. Tabitha von Kolen had a lead-off single followed by Reagan Terwilliger slapping a hit through the left side of the infield. Emily Gorman kept the party going as she loaded the bases with a single up the middle. Nicole Allen then ripped a single to center field that scored von Kolen and Terwilliger to tie the game at 2. Bella Smithson loaded the bases back up with a single to left. After forcing a pitching change with no outs, Abbey Nagel reached base on an error by the shortstop that scored Gorman to put the Bulls in front, 3-2. Bri Delaney reached on a fielder's choice, but with a throwing error, everyone was safe as Allen and Smithson scored on the play. With runners in scoring position, Ardyn Hopf singled to left that scored Nagel. The Bulls tried to extend their lead, but a play at the plate resulted in the first out of the inning. The next two batters were retired by the Cardinals as the Bulls led 6-2.
Louisville inflicted damage in the next three innings, resulting in eight runs on 11 hits and two walks. Buffalo's timely hitting went cold as they fell, 10-6.
Nagel and Gorman each had two hits in the game as Allen led the Bulls with two RBIs.
The Bulls' schedule this weekend will be as follows:
- Saturday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. vs. Wisconsin
- Saturday, Feb. 21 at 4:45 p.m. vs. FGCU (ESPN+)
- Sunday, Feb. 22 at 9 a.m. vs. Louisville
Click here for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Russ, Olivia (2-3)
L: Koosh, Sydnee (0-2)
Batting:
3B: Hopf, Ardyn 1
HR: Smithson, Bella 1
RBI: Allen, Nicole 1 ; Delaney, Bri 1 ; Smithson, Bella 3
SF: Delaney, Bri 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Terwilliger, Reagan 1 ; Allen, Nicole 1 ; Smithson, Bella 1 ; Gorman, Emily 1 ; Zipp , Miranda 1 ; von Kolen, Tabitha 1
SB: Terwilliger, Reagan 1 ; Gorman, Emily 1 ; von Kolen, Tabitha 1
HBP: Allen, Nicole 1
Batting:
2B: De Meo, Caylee 1
RBI: Coupal, Haley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cruz, Bella 1 ; Ring, Savannah 1 ; De Meo, Caylee 1
CS: Calciano, Ava 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
OF/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
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