It had been a long time since the Buffalo softball team was able to win a game, let alone a close game. The Bulls had lost 13 straight games before their fortunes changed this past weekend.
The Bulls picked up just their third victory of the season, defeating the Ohio Bobcats in the second game of a double-header. This was the Bulls first win since March 17.
Buffalo (3-33, 1-7 Mid-American Conference) took early command of Friday's second game and held off a late rally by the visiting Bobcats (18-20, 7-5 MAC) to earn their third victory overall and first in MAC play this season.
After Ohio took an early 1-0 lead, the Bulls struck back with a big five run second inning, to take a commanding four run lead over the Bobcats.
Sophomore outfielder Erin Zilka got the inning started with a single up the middle. After freshman pitcher Sharon Barr was hit by a pitch, sophomore first baseman Dana Carter advanced Zilka and Barr to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. A single by sophomore center fielder Jenna Beall-Schwab brought around the Bulls first run.
Following a pair of hits to score twice more, the Bulls were able to capitalize on a big Bobcat throwing error to second base that allowed two more runs to come around, putting the Bulls ahead by a score of 5-1.
Going into the final inning, the Bulls saw their lead shrink to 5-3 after two Bobcat runs crossed the plate. A single and a throwing error by the Bulls in the top of the seventh put the Ohio in position to tie the game. With one out and a runner on third, the Bulls induced the Bobcats into a ground out to Hansen, who immediately threw home to Zilka, preventing Ohio from tying the game and preserving the Bulls victory.
While the second game was a bright spot for the Bulls, the win was overshadowed by the Bulls' inept performance in the first game of the series. Buffalo dropped the first game on Friday by a score of 15-1, with Zilka and freshman left fielder Lacy Schneider picking up the only two hits of the game for the Bulls. Schneider recorded the Bulls' lone RBI on an error by the Bobcats third baseman in the bottom of the first.
Much of Ohio's damage came in the second inning, where they pounded the Bulls for 12 runs on 10 hits. The Bulls also recorded two errors in the never-ending inning.
Saturday, the Bulls looked to win back-to-back games for the first time all season as they took on MAC rival Akron (13-16, 5-5 MAC) for a double-header. Unfortunately, the Zips were too much for the Bulls to handle, taking both of the afternoon's contests.
In the first game of the double-header, Akron jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back ad it won handily by a score of 11-0. Buffalo mustered only three hits in the contest, with Barr's second inning double highlighting the Bulls day at the plate.
The day's second contest began in exciting fashion as the teams combined for nine runs in the first inning. Four runs by the Bulls are the most they have scored in the first inning all season.
Akron began the scoring with a bases-loaded double to immediately jump out to a 2-0 lead. A wild pitch by the Bulls and a Zips sacrifice bunt helped continue the inning, with Akron adding three more runs to jump out to the early 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, Zilka smacked a two RBI double to left field to open the scoring for the Bulls. A throwing error and a batter hit by a pitch allowed two more runs to come across for the Bulls in the frame, making the score 5-4 after just one inning.
Unfortunately, the Zips poured it on with seven runs on five hits in the third inning to take a 12-4 lead and the eventually victory by that same score.
The Bulls will continue MAC play this weekend with a double-header at home against Northern Illinois on Friday and games against Western Michigan on Saturday and Sunday.
