The 2007 season has only gotten worse for the Buffalo softball team. Participating in the Indiana University Classic this past weekend, the Bulls lost all five games that they played.
The first opponent for the tournament was the University of Illinois-Chicago (16-22). The Flames scorched the Bulls early and often to the tune of an 11-1 victory. Illinois-Chicago scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning and scored six more in the second.
Buffalo (2-25) earned its only run of the game in the top of the second inning. Junior infielder Marcy Hansen singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a groundball. Sophomore outfielder Erin Zilka hammered a double into leftfield to bring in Hansen.
Freshman Sharon Barr came in as a relief pitcher and performed admirably. She tossed three innings, giving up zero runs and only one hit while striking out one batter.
In the second game of the weekend, the Bulls battled Mid-American Conference foe Eastern Michigan (7-14). This game was a back and forth battle with both teams taking the lead twice. The Eagles were able to survive the affair and claim the 8-6 victory.
Buffalo took the early lead in the top of the first inning. Hansen began the game with a leadoff single, followed by senior infielder Colleen Greene being hit by a pitch, advancing Hansen to second. Junior Lacy Schneider hammering a three-run homer to give the Bulls a 3-0 lead followed this.
It took until the fourth inning for Eastern Michigan to score. The Eagles put up three runs in the fourth inning, to tie the game.
Buffalo regained the lead in the fifth inning. Freshman utility player Katie Ivancich singled to center field to reach base. She would get to second on a wild pitch, and advance to third on a ground ball. Greene came through with a two out single to right-center to put the Bulls in front 4-3.
The Bulls only held the lead for a short time, as Eastern Michigan rallied in the bottom half of the inning to gain a 7-4 advantage.
The comeback attempt began in the sixth when Schneider walked. She advanced to second on a single to center by sophomore infielder Dana Carter. Freshman infielder Samantha Gaetano singled to right field to score Carter.
After Eastern Michigan scored another run in bottom of the sixth, the Bulls responded with a homerun by Greene. However, this was the closest Buffalo would get to the Eagles the rest of the game.
The second game on Saturday pitted the Bulls against host-school Indiana (17-12). The Hoosiers earned the victory in the night game, 4-0.
Even though Buffalo did not score in the game, they were able to record five hits. Greene went 1-1 with a walk while Hansen batted 2-3.
The final day of the event was no different than the previous two for the Buffalo team. Its first game was a rematch against Illinois-Chicago and the Flames crushed the Bulls, 13-0.
Another big first inning haunted the Bulls in this game. The Flames scored six runs and never looked back. They continued their offensive surge and scored seven more times to secure the victory.
The second game on Sunday was another rematch, this time against the host school Indiana. The Hoosiers were able to pull away for the victory with a late surge to win, 10-2.
Indiana got on the board early with four runs through the first three innings. The Bulls would get on the board in the fourth inning when freshman Gaetano singled to left-center to bring home Barr, who walked earlier in the inning.
With Buffalo down 5-1, Gaetano delivered another single to get her second run batted in for the game bringing in freshman Jackie Burke. This was the closest the Bulls would get as the Hoosiers scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Buffalo will now begin their Mid-American Conference schedule. The first game is a double-header against Toledo on Friday, March 30. The opening pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
