Softball gains first win by forfeit in Lone Star State

It was certainly unorthodox, but, as the old saying goes, "a win is a win."

The softball team notched its first victory of the season Saturday night during the third annual University at Texas-El Paso Invitational, following a Northern Colorado forfeit. The win placed the Bulls in the championship bracket of the tournament for a rematch against Utah on Sunday. The team ended up finishing fourth in a five-team field that also included Wisconsin and UT-El Paso.

Buffalo (1-10) earned its victory when Northern Colorado (2-12) was unable to replace an ejected player in the sixth inning.

In their championship bracket game, the fifth-seeded Bulls were eliminated by Utah (9-5-1) 10-1. The Utes took an early 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Utah scored its other five runs in the third. The Bulls lone run came on the teams only hit, as sophomore left fielder Erin Zilker sent a solo shot into left center in the second inning off of Utah's Meghan Dyer. Dyer struck out 13 of the 16 batters she faced over five innings of work.

The Bulls' forfeit victory was a payback of sorts, as the team suffered its first loss of the tournament against that same Northern Colorado squad on Friday. The game was tied at four heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, until the Bears exploded for five runs with the go-ahead run coming off of an error by senior third baseman Colleen Greene. The Bears added three more runs in the final frame for a final score of 12-4.

Senior center fielder and leadoff hitter Mary Russell went 2-3 and led the team with two RBIs. She also stole two bases, bringing her season total to six. Greene and Zilka brought in the other runs.

The Bulls faced pitching woes as well on Friday, as they were defeated by UTEP, 21-1. The Miners (11-5) worked junior starting pitcher Margo Schramm for eight runs on nine hits in only 1 2/3 innings pitched. Schramm was relieved by freshman Sharon Barr. Barr did not fare much better, as she gave up four runs against the nine batters she faced. Things didn't improve much when senior Sophie Barstad was brought into the fourth inning with runners on second and third and no outs. The Miners went on to score four runs that inning and added nine more in the bottom of the fifth.

Freshman second baseman Katie Ivancich scored the Bulls' only run. After leading off the bottom of the second with a walk, she advanced to second on an error. Zilka was able to move Ivancich over to third with a fly ball to center field. Following a walk to junior catcher Lacy Schneider, Ivancich was able to score the Bulls' only run of the game on a past ball.

First on tap for the Bulls on Saturday, was a match-up against Wisconsin (6-4). The Badgers took another early jump on the Bulls. After taking a 4-0 through the first inning, the Badgers never looked back, winning the game 13-3.

Starting in left field, Barr had two RBI's for the Bulls but had to quickly relieve Schramm, who was only able to manage one out after surrendering four runs to five batters. Combined, the Bulls pitching staff gave up 12 hits, including three home runs and a total of seven knocks that went for extra bases. They were also out hit in the game, 12-4.

The Bulls next matched up against Utah on Saturday. This time Buffalo was able to take a 2-0 lead in the first, with RBI singles by Zilka and sophomore first baseman Dana Carter.

Buffalo held a 5-2 lead heading into the sixth inning, but Utah was able to score three runs on three hits to tie the game. The tying and go-ahead runs crossed the plate on an error by Ivancich. It was one of five errors committed by the Bulls and their 15th overall at that point of the tournament. The Bulls were charged with a combined 17 errors in five games.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, with only one out and Greene on third, Barr and Zilka struck out consecutively, taking the game into the seventh inning. Utah went on to win the game 9-5, scoring four runs in the extra frame.

The Miners ultimately won the tournament, defeating Utah, 9-2, for the school's first softball title on Sunday.

Buffalo does not play again until Friday, March 9, when the team travels to Tallahassee for the Florida State Invitational. Their first game will be against nationally ranked Georgia (11-6) on Friday, March 9 at 11 a.m. The tournament runs through March 11. The first home game of the year is scheduled for April 4, as the Bulls host a doubleheader against Pittsburgh.