Friday, March 13
DeKalb, Ill.
4 p.m.
University at Buffalo
7-15, 0-1
7
at
14
Northern Illinois
7-6, 1-0
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Buffalo
2
0
2
1
0
2
0
7
9
2
Northern Ill.
0
7
4
1
0
2
X
14
11
0
Photo by: Ken Smith/UBBulls.com
Bulls Split Road Conference Opening Doubleheader at Northern Illinois
3/13/2026 10:04:00 PM | Softball
DEKALB, Ill. – The University at Buffalo softball team (8-15, 1-1 MAC) split their doubleheader to open MAC play on Friday against the Northern Illinois Huskies (7-7, 1-1 MAC). After falling in the first game, 14-7, they came back to win the second game, 11-10.
GAME 1
With two outs in the first inning, Bella Smithson ripped a double down the left field line. Abbey Nagel then hit her second home run of the season to give the Bulls a quick 2-0 lead.
Buffalo held the lead until the bottom of the second when the Huskies offense capitalized on the Bulls' miscues. They went on to score seven runs on three hits and a pair of errors.
Now trailing 7-2 after two innings of play, Nagel cut the lead as she drove in Reagan Terwilliger. In the following at bat, Bri Delaney reached on a fielder's choice, but scored Nagel to make it 7-4.
Northern Illinois's bats stayed hot in the bottom of the third as they added four runs to their cause on four hits. With the Huskies leading 11-4, Nicole Allen led the inning off with a triple. Ardyn Hopf drove Allen in the next at bat with an RBI single. The Huskies got the run back as they scored a run on a fielder's choice making it 12-5.
In the top of the sixth, Hopf led off with a double to right as Delaney Ellis followed that up with a walk. Both runners advanced after a ground out, but Hopf came around to score as Emily Gorman singled up the middle for an RBI. With runners on the corners, a double steal by the Bulls scored Ellis from third to cut Northern Illinois's lead to 12-7.
The Huskies snatched a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead to 14-7. Buffalo had no answer as they fell, 14-7.
Nagel went 2-for-2 with 4 RBIs in the contest.
GAME 2
Just like the first game of the series, the Bulls took the early lead as Abbey Nagel hit an RBI single to left that scored Reagan Terwilliger. The lead didn't last as a two-run homer by the home team gave them a 2-1 lead.
The Huskies added to their lead in the bottom of the second with an RBI single, extending their lead to 3-1.
Buffalo responded in the top of the third. With the bases loaded and no outs, Bri Delaney tied the game with a 2-RBI single that scored Miranda Zipp and Terwilliger. Nicole Allen then drove in Nagel to give Buffalo a 4-3 lead. Ardyn Hopf singled in the next at bat to bring Delaney around to put Buffalo in front 5-3.
In the next inning, Nagel hit a double to center. Sophia Avin went in to pinch run for Nagel to help get another run across. With two outs, Nicole Allen singled to third base as Avin advanced to put runners on the corners. An error by the third baseman allowed Avin to score and give Buffalo a 6-3 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Northern Illinois tied the game following a solo home run, a double steal and an RBI single to center.
Buffalo's offense exploded in the fifth. Emily Gorman reached base via a walk. Terwilliger put the ball in play to center field, as both Gorman and Terwilliger reached scoring position. Bella Smithson didn't waste time as she singled to center scoring both Gorman and Terwilliger. Nagel and Delaney loaded the bases with a walk and single, respectfully. Hopf cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double to right to extend Buffalo's lead to 11-6.
Northern Illinois had no response in the bottom half of the inning as it was three up, three down.
The game tightened up in the sixth and seventh innings as the Huskies' offense ignited. In the bottom of the sixth, they cut Buffalo's lead to 11-8 following an error allowing two runs to score. Buffalo looked to add some insurance runs in the seventh but were shut down by the Huskies. Looking to escape with the victory, the Huskies had other plans. The first two players reached base and the bases would soon be loaded with one out on the board. An RBI single made it an 11-9 game with the winning run on first base. A sacrifice fly scored the runner from third base and advanced the runners, placing the winning run on second base with two outs. With a pinch hitter coming to the dish, the Bulls got out of the jam with a fly out to right field to end the game and taking home the 11-10 win.
Allen went 4-for-5 with an RBI and run scored. Nagel and Delaney both recorded three hits. Hopf led the Bulls with four RBIs.
The Bulls are back in action tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET as they'll finish their series against the Huskies.
For all the latest on UB Softball, follow @UBBullssoftball on Twitter/X, @ubbullssoftball on Instagram and like the UB Softball Facebook page.
Click here for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
GAME 1
With two outs in the first inning, Bella Smithson ripped a double down the left field line. Abbey Nagel then hit her second home run of the season to give the Bulls a quick 2-0 lead.
Buffalo held the lead until the bottom of the second when the Huskies offense capitalized on the Bulls' miscues. They went on to score seven runs on three hits and a pair of errors.
Now trailing 7-2 after two innings of play, Nagel cut the lead as she drove in Reagan Terwilliger. In the following at bat, Bri Delaney reached on a fielder's choice, but scored Nagel to make it 7-4.
Northern Illinois's bats stayed hot in the bottom of the third as they added four runs to their cause on four hits. With the Huskies leading 11-4, Nicole Allen led the inning off with a triple. Ardyn Hopf drove Allen in the next at bat with an RBI single. The Huskies got the run back as they scored a run on a fielder's choice making it 12-5.
In the top of the sixth, Hopf led off with a double to right as Delaney Ellis followed that up with a walk. Both runners advanced after a ground out, but Hopf came around to score as Emily Gorman singled up the middle for an RBI. With runners on the corners, a double steal by the Bulls scored Ellis from third to cut Northern Illinois's lead to 12-7.
The Huskies snatched a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead to 14-7. Buffalo had no answer as they fell, 14-7.
Nagel went 2-for-2 with 4 RBIs in the contest.
GAME 2
Just like the first game of the series, the Bulls took the early lead as Abbey Nagel hit an RBI single to left that scored Reagan Terwilliger. The lead didn't last as a two-run homer by the home team gave them a 2-1 lead.
The Huskies added to their lead in the bottom of the second with an RBI single, extending their lead to 3-1.
Buffalo responded in the top of the third. With the bases loaded and no outs, Bri Delaney tied the game with a 2-RBI single that scored Miranda Zipp and Terwilliger. Nicole Allen then drove in Nagel to give Buffalo a 4-3 lead. Ardyn Hopf singled in the next at bat to bring Delaney around to put Buffalo in front 5-3.
In the next inning, Nagel hit a double to center. Sophia Avin went in to pinch run for Nagel to help get another run across. With two outs, Nicole Allen singled to third base as Avin advanced to put runners on the corners. An error by the third baseman allowed Avin to score and give Buffalo a 6-3 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Northern Illinois tied the game following a solo home run, a double steal and an RBI single to center.
Buffalo's offense exploded in the fifth. Emily Gorman reached base via a walk. Terwilliger put the ball in play to center field, as both Gorman and Terwilliger reached scoring position. Bella Smithson didn't waste time as she singled to center scoring both Gorman and Terwilliger. Nagel and Delaney loaded the bases with a walk and single, respectfully. Hopf cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double to right to extend Buffalo's lead to 11-6.
Northern Illinois had no response in the bottom half of the inning as it was three up, three down.
The game tightened up in the sixth and seventh innings as the Huskies' offense ignited. In the bottom of the sixth, they cut Buffalo's lead to 11-8 following an error allowing two runs to score. Buffalo looked to add some insurance runs in the seventh but were shut down by the Huskies. Looking to escape with the victory, the Huskies had other plans. The first two players reached base and the bases would soon be loaded with one out on the board. An RBI single made it an 11-9 game with the winning run on first base. A sacrifice fly scored the runner from third base and advanced the runners, placing the winning run on second base with two outs. With a pinch hitter coming to the dish, the Bulls got out of the jam with a fly out to right field to end the game and taking home the 11-10 win.
Allen went 4-for-5 with an RBI and run scored. Nagel and Delaney both recorded three hits. Hopf led the Bulls with four RBIs.
The Bulls are back in action tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET as they'll finish their series against the Huskies.
For all the latest on UB Softball, follow @UBBullssoftball on Twitter/X, @ubbullssoftball on Instagram and like the UB Softball Facebook page.
Click here for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Madison Carlson (2-0)
L: Russ, Olivia (4-6)
Batting:
2B: Smithson, Bella 1 ; Hopf, Ardyn 1
3B: Allen, Nicole 1
HR: Nagel, Abbey 1
RBI: Gorman, Emily 1 ; Nagel, Abbey 3 ; Delaney, Bri 1 ; Hopf, Ardyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Terwilliger, Reagan 1 ; Smithson, Bella 1 ; Nagel, Abbey 2 ; Allen, Nicole 1 ; Hopf, Ardyn 1 ; Ellis, Delaney 1
SB: Gorman, Emily 1 ; Terwilliger, Reagan 1 ; Ellis, Delaney 1
Batting:
2B: Alana Powell 1
HR: Katy Ramage 1
RBI: Jenna Turner 1 ; Izzi Hanna 2 ; Danielle Stewart 4 ; Katy Ramage 2 ; Alana Powell 1 ; Rylie Hartman 2 ; Lia Nance 1
SF: Izzi Hanna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Izzi Hanna 1 ; Danielle Stewart 1 ; Katy Ramage 1 ; Mallory Wollenmann 1 ; Trinity Jones Estrada 1 ; Mia Morera 2 ; Alana Powell 3 ; Rylie Hartman 1 ; Alanah Velazquez 1 ; Lia Nance 2
SB: Izzi Hanna 1 ; Rylie Hartman 1
CS: Rylie Hartman 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
OF/UTL
/ Softball
OF
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