Bulls Hit Four Home Runs but Fall to Northern Illinois

Saturday, March 14

DeKalb, Ill.

1 p.m.

University at Buffalo

8-16, 1-2

Northern Illinois

8-7, 2-1

Buffalo

Northern Ill.

Bulls Hit Four Home Runs but Fall to Northern Illinois

3/14/2026 4:07:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Zach Monell

DEKALB, Ill. – The University at Buffalo softball team (8-16, 1-2 MAC) lost their final game of the series against the Northern Illinois Huskies (8-7, 2-1 MAC) on Saturday afternoon in five innings, 16-8.

Northern Illinois scored early and often as they scored nine runs on eight hits and two errors in just the first inning. Timely hitting was crucial for the Huskies.

Buffalo got on the board in the second inning as Ardyn Hopf hit a two-run home run to left to make it a 9-7 game. This marked her first collegiate home run of her career. After holding the Huskies scoreless in the bottom of the second, the Bulls added to their run total in the third.

Emily Gorman and Reagan Terwilliger reached base on back-to-back walks. Abbey Nagel then ripped a three-run home run to center to make it a 9-5 Northern Illinois lead. Bri Delaney then got in on the action as she hit a solo shot to left to make it a 9-6 game. After a pitching change, the Bulls' bats were still hot as Bella Smithson cranked her fifth home run of the season to left to cut the Huskies' lead down to 9-7. The Bulls hit back-to-back-to-back home runs for the first time in program history. Nicole Allen kept the bats going with a single to left and advanced to second on an error. Hopf stayed hot as an RBI double made it a 9-8 game. Buffalo's offense couldn't tie the game as the Huskies recorded three straight outs.

In the bottom of the third the Huskies got some runs back. After a snow flurry delay, the Huskies scored four runs on five hits to extend their lead to 13-8. The Bulls looked to cut the deficit in the fourth as Terwilliger singled to right and then stole second base. She would end up stranded in scoring position.

Northern Illinois scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning to push their lead to 15-8. Buffalo did not have a response as the Huskies clinched the mercy win in the bottom of the fifth, winning the contest 16-8.

The Bulls are back in action on Wednesday as they'll host the Canisius Golden Griffins for a double header at 1 p.m.

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