Wednesday, April 1
Buffalo, N.Y.
1:30 p.m.
University at Buffalo
15-18
14
vs
13
Niagara
0-18
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Niagara
0
3
3
1
1
0
5
13
16
4
Buffalo
8
0
0
2
0
4
X
14
18
0
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
Bulls Sweep Purple Eagles on Wednesday
4/1/2026 9:10:00 PM | Softball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo softball team (16-18, 5-4 MAC) swept the Niagara Purple Eagles (0-19, 0-10 MAAC) on Wednesday afternoon at Nan Harvey Field. The Bulls won the first game in a nailbiter, 14-13, before winning the second game of the day in comeback fashion, 8-2.
Buffalo has now won 11 of their last 14 games.
GAME 1
The Bulls looked as though they were going to soar by the Purple Eagles following the first inning. Emily Gorman started the inning off with a walk and stole second base but advanced to third on an error. Reagan Terwilliger grounded out, but it was good enough to give the Bulls a 1-0 lead as Gorman scored. With the bases empty, Nicole Allen stayed hot at the dish as she singled to center field. After stealing second base, a Bella Smithson single to left center scored Allen to make it 2-0. Bri Delaney singled against her former team to put runners on first and second. Abbey Nagel then singled to load the bases with Ardyn Hopf up to the plate. The second baseman singled up the middle to score Smithson and Delaney.
Up 4-0 with just one out, the Bulls forced a pitching change. Delaney Ellis singled to left, scoring Hopf and Nagel to extend their lead to 6-0. Already at the top of the lineup, Gorman added an RBI single to her stats as Ellis came around to score to push it to 7-0. Terwilliger ripped her eighth career triple off the right field wall to score Gorman. The Bulls led 8-0 after the first inning.
The Purple Eagles fought their way back in the game courtesy of a three-run homer to make it 8-3 after two innings of play. Niagara added two more runs to their cause in the third inning off a solo home run and an RBI double. Leading 8-6 in the bottom of the third, the Bulls only managed to get one hit in the inning.
Niagara made it a one-run game in the top of the fourth as a single through the right side to make it 8-7. In the bottom of the inning, the Bulls responded. Terwilliger led off with a single to left center and stole second base. Allen drove in Terwilliger in the ensuing at bat with a single up the middle. With Allen now on second base after advancing on the throw home, Smithson came up to the plate. She grounded out to third allowing Allen to move to third. The first baseman tried throwing out Allen at third, but the throw was dropped by the third baseman was good enough to score Allen and make it 10-7.
A leadoff home run by the Purple Eagles in the top of the fifth cut Buffalo lead to 10-8. In the bottom of the sixth, Nagel and the Bulls extended their lead to 14-8 as she hit the program's 12th grand slam in school history. This was the first grand slam since Kate Vara did so on May 6, 2023, at Ohio.
Niagara tightened the game up in their final at bat as an RBI single made it 14-9. With the bases loaded, a base clearing double cut Buffalo's lead down to two runs, 14-12. After a pitching change, an RBI double made it a one-run game. With the tying run on first, a strikeout closed the game as the Bulls won, 14-13.
Allen, Nagel and Hopf all went 3-for-4 in the game. In the circle, Malena Toth earned the win as she tossed 4.0 innings with a strikeout. Genevieve Longsdorf earned the save, her third of the season.
GAME 2
Niagara struck first in the second game of the afternoon on a ground out. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second, the Bulls threatened with runners in scoring position, but a flyout to left ended the inning.
After retiring Niagara in order in the third, Buffalo found themselves in a familiar position in the bottom of the third. Reagan Terwilliger singled through the right side as Nicole Allen doubled to left center with two outs. With runners in scoring position, the inning ended on a hard ground out to third base.
The Purple Eagles were held silent in the top of the fourth, as the Bulls looked to score in the bottom half of the inning. Bri Delaney and Abbey Nagel earned walks to start the inning. After back-to-back flyouts, a third walk in the inning loaded the bases. Emily Gorman ripped the ball toward the hole, but the shortstop quickly made the throw to third to get Nagel out on a force play to end the inning.
Still leading 1-0, Niagara added to their lead in the fifth on an RBI single. The Bulls responded in the bottom of the fifth as Nagel hit her third career triple to score Bella Smithson and Nicole Allen.
In the top of the sixth with one out, a walk gave the Purple Eagles a base runner. The runner didn't last long as Smithson threw her out trying to steal second. This was her 12th runner she's caught stealing this season. Niagara lost all momentum the rest of the inning.
Buffalo's offense exploded in the bottom of the sixth. Lily Lauck started the inning off with a single up the middle. Tabitha von Kolen then singled to the pitcher to put runners on first and second. Gorman didn't waste time as she gave Buffalo the lead on an RBI single. Terwilliger walked to load the bases. Allen stayed hot with a 2-RBI single to right to push the Bulls' lead to 5-2. On a double steal, Allen took second, forcing a throw allowing Terwilliger to score on the play. Now up 6-2, Smithson ripped her seventh home run of the season to center to give Buffalo an 8-2 lead.
Niagara had no answers in the top of the seventh as the Bulls mounted a late comeback for an 8-2 win.
Genevieve Longsdorf tossed a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. She improved her record to 7-4 on the season. Allen and Nagel each recorded a pair of hits with two RBIs. Smithson also added two RBIs.
The Bulls are back in action on Friday as they'll host the Miami (OH) RedHawks for a doubleheader at 1:30 p.m.
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.
Buffalo has now won 11 of their last 14 games.
GAME 1
The Bulls looked as though they were going to soar by the Purple Eagles following the first inning. Emily Gorman started the inning off with a walk and stole second base but advanced to third on an error. Reagan Terwilliger grounded out, but it was good enough to give the Bulls a 1-0 lead as Gorman scored. With the bases empty, Nicole Allen stayed hot at the dish as she singled to center field. After stealing second base, a Bella Smithson single to left center scored Allen to make it 2-0. Bri Delaney singled against her former team to put runners on first and second. Abbey Nagel then singled to load the bases with Ardyn Hopf up to the plate. The second baseman singled up the middle to score Smithson and Delaney.
Up 4-0 with just one out, the Bulls forced a pitching change. Delaney Ellis singled to left, scoring Hopf and Nagel to extend their lead to 6-0. Already at the top of the lineup, Gorman added an RBI single to her stats as Ellis came around to score to push it to 7-0. Terwilliger ripped her eighth career triple off the right field wall to score Gorman. The Bulls led 8-0 after the first inning.
The Purple Eagles fought their way back in the game courtesy of a three-run homer to make it 8-3 after two innings of play. Niagara added two more runs to their cause in the third inning off a solo home run and an RBI double. Leading 8-6 in the bottom of the third, the Bulls only managed to get one hit in the inning.
Niagara made it a one-run game in the top of the fourth as a single through the right side to make it 8-7. In the bottom of the inning, the Bulls responded. Terwilliger led off with a single to left center and stole second base. Allen drove in Terwilliger in the ensuing at bat with a single up the middle. With Allen now on second base after advancing on the throw home, Smithson came up to the plate. She grounded out to third allowing Allen to move to third. The first baseman tried throwing out Allen at third, but the throw was dropped by the third baseman was good enough to score Allen and make it 10-7.
A leadoff home run by the Purple Eagles in the top of the fifth cut Buffalo lead to 10-8. In the bottom of the sixth, Nagel and the Bulls extended their lead to 14-8 as she hit the program's 12th grand slam in school history. This was the first grand slam since Kate Vara did so on May 6, 2023, at Ohio.
Niagara tightened the game up in their final at bat as an RBI single made it 14-9. With the bases loaded, a base clearing double cut Buffalo's lead down to two runs, 14-12. After a pitching change, an RBI double made it a one-run game. With the tying run on first, a strikeout closed the game as the Bulls won, 14-13.
Allen, Nagel and Hopf all went 3-for-4 in the game. In the circle, Malena Toth earned the win as she tossed 4.0 innings with a strikeout. Genevieve Longsdorf earned the save, her third of the season.
GAME 2
Niagara struck first in the second game of the afternoon on a ground out. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second, the Bulls threatened with runners in scoring position, but a flyout to left ended the inning.
After retiring Niagara in order in the third, Buffalo found themselves in a familiar position in the bottom of the third. Reagan Terwilliger singled through the right side as Nicole Allen doubled to left center with two outs. With runners in scoring position, the inning ended on a hard ground out to third base.
The Purple Eagles were held silent in the top of the fourth, as the Bulls looked to score in the bottom half of the inning. Bri Delaney and Abbey Nagel earned walks to start the inning. After back-to-back flyouts, a third walk in the inning loaded the bases. Emily Gorman ripped the ball toward the hole, but the shortstop quickly made the throw to third to get Nagel out on a force play to end the inning.
Still leading 1-0, Niagara added to their lead in the fifth on an RBI single. The Bulls responded in the bottom of the fifth as Nagel hit her third career triple to score Bella Smithson and Nicole Allen.
In the top of the sixth with one out, a walk gave the Purple Eagles a base runner. The runner didn't last long as Smithson threw her out trying to steal second. This was her 12th runner she's caught stealing this season. Niagara lost all momentum the rest of the inning.
Buffalo's offense exploded in the bottom of the sixth. Lily Lauck started the inning off with a single up the middle. Tabitha von Kolen then singled to the pitcher to put runners on first and second. Gorman didn't waste time as she gave Buffalo the lead on an RBI single. Terwilliger walked to load the bases. Allen stayed hot with a 2-RBI single to right to push the Bulls' lead to 5-2. On a double steal, Allen took second, forcing a throw allowing Terwilliger to score on the play. Now up 6-2, Smithson ripped her seventh home run of the season to center to give Buffalo an 8-2 lead.
Niagara had no answers in the top of the seventh as the Bulls mounted a late comeback for an 8-2 win.
Genevieve Longsdorf tossed a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. She improved her record to 7-4 on the season. Allen and Nagel each recorded a pair of hits with two RBIs. Smithson also added two RBIs.
The Bulls are back in action on Friday as they'll host the Miami (OH) RedHawks for a doubleheader at 1:30 p.m.
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: Toth, Malena (6-4)
L: Abbey Steen (0-5)
S: Longsdorf, Genevieve (3)
Batting:
2B: Donnalea Barnett 2 ; Sophia Marrero 1 ; Jolyn Gibbons 1 ; Adriana Hills 1
HR: Hailey Cenname 1 ; Jolyn Gibbons 1 ; Payton Rano 1
RBI: Carmella Phelan 1 ; Hailey Cenname 3 ; Jolyn Gibbons 2 ; Payton Rano 4 ; Adriana Hills 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Donnalea Barnett 1 ; Carmella Phelan 1 ; Hailey Cenname 1 ; Sophia Marrero 1 ; Alessandra Carter 1 ; Jolyn Gibbons 2 ; Sophia Chemotti 1 ; Ella Sheehan 1 ; Ella Fowler 1 ; Payton Rano 1 ; Jenna Martin 1 ; Adriana Hills 1
CS: Carmella Phelan 1
Batting:
3B: Terwilliger, Reagan 1
HR: Nagel, Abbey 1
RBI: Gorman, Emily 1 ; Terwilliger, Reagan 2 ; Allen, Nicole 1 ; Smithson, Bella 1 ; Nagel, Abbey 4 ; Hopf, Ardyn 2 ; Ellis, Delaney 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Gorman, Emily 2 ; Terwilliger, Reagan 1 ; Allen, Nicole 3 ; Smithson, Bella 1 ; Zipp , Miranda 1 ; Delaney, Bri 2 ; Nagel, Abbey 2 ; Hopf, Ardyn 1 ; Ellis, Delaney 1
SB: Gorman, Emily 1 ; Terwilliger, Reagan 1 ; Allen, Nicole 1 ; von Kolen, Tabitha 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P/3B
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
OF/UTL
/ Softball
1B/P
/ Softball
OF
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