A three-game losing streak smothered the momentum the softball team built up during out-of-conference play. The Bulls went on the road for two doubleheaders, hoping to improve their record and capture the magic once possessed.
Buffalo (18-13, 1-5 Mid-American Conference) continued its cold streak with two losses against the Ball State Cardinals (16-16, 6-1 MAC) Friday at Ball State Softball Field. On Saturday at the Miami Softball Stadium, the Bulls dropped their first game to Miami (OH) (18-13, 4-4 MAC) before salvaging their weekend with a win in the second game.
Ball State jumped out to an early lead in the first game, scoring a run in each of the first two innings.
Junior outfielder Jamie Scheffler responded in the top of the third inning for the Bulls. She blasted her first home run of the season over the right field fence to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Cardinals.
Both offenses struggled over the following innings. Freshman pitcher Terese Diaz held the Cardinals scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, recording two of her five strikeouts in the process. Buffalo, however, was unable to take advantage during the two innings, leaving two runners on base and scoring no runs.
The Bulls' offense got back on track in the sixth inning when sophomore infielder Alex Bejarano started the offensive surge, doubling to the left center field with one out. Senior infielder Erin Zilka followed with a walk, setting up an RBI off the bat of freshman catcher Kristin Waldron that tied the game. Waldron doubled, scoring Bejarano and moving Zilka to third base. Buffalo failed to capture the lead and stranded Zilka and Waldron in scoring position.
Ball State was able to take advantage of the Bulls' missed opportunity. Cardinals pitcher Elizabeth Milian opened the inning with a single and scored when third baseman Kate Wilczynski smacked an RBI double to right center field. The Cardinals tacked on another run when Milian scored on a sacrifice fly.
Down 4-2 in the seventh and final inning, the Bulls were unable to get anyone on base and dropped the first of two games.
The Cardinals wasted no time in gaining the lead in the second game. Outfielder Alyssa Collins hit an RBI bunt to give Ball State the early lead. Shortstop Alicia Barkley scored the second run of the inning when she crossed home plate on a wild pitch by Diaz, who was pulled after retiring only two Cardinals in the game.
Junior pitcher Sharon Barr came in and provided the Bulls with a solid pitching effort. She halted the Cardinals' hot streak and held them scoreless for the next four innings.
Buffalo got on the board in the fourth inning. With two outs, Waldron singled up the middle and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Diaz brought Waldron home with a single to left field.
Up 2-1, Ball State's offense found its groove in the sixth inning against Barr. After an error and a Ball State single, the Bulls gave up a run when Collins hit an RBI double. First baseman Jen Reifschneider put the game out of reach when she followed with an RBI double of her own, scoring two more and increasing the Cardinals' lead to four runs.
Buffalo attempted a comeback. With two outs, freshman third baseman Dominique Carcone extended the game with a single. She quickly scored when Scheffler followed with a double to left field, making the score 5-2. Ball State easily extinguished the Buffalo surge, getting sophomore center fielder Kristen Gallipani to pop out and ending the game.
Buffalo traveled to Oxford, Ohio on Saturday to partake in another doubleheader. Diaz started once again for the Bulls and was unable to keep the RedHawks off the scoreboard early on. Miami shortstop Sarah Billstrom started the scoring in the first inning for the RedHawks with a sacrifice fly that scored outfielder Ashley Gartland.
Billstrom caused more damage in the third inning with a double that scored Miami's second run of the game. She scored Miami's third run after left fielder Alicia Hogl drove her home in with a single.
Down 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning, Buffalo got its offense going to climb back into the game. Waldron continued her strong weekend with a single up the middle that scored Sheffler. Senior first baseman Dana Carter got the Bulls within one run when she knocked an RBI single that made the score 3-2.
But the Bulls failed to score any more runs in the game. The RedHawks scored a run in the bottom of the fourth inning and blew the game open with six runs in the fifth inning.
The nightcap of the doubleheader was a pitchers' duel. Barr pitched the contest and allowed just one run in six innings. She struck out three batters in the process.
Buffalo scored enough to end its six-game losing streak. Unlike the other games over the weekend, the Bulls scored first against Miami. Zilka came to the plate in the top of the first inning and knocked her first home run of the season to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead.
Barr gave up her only run in the fourth inning. Miami catcher Jenna McGivney belted a solo home run to left field to tie the game.
Both pitchers kept the opposition at bay before Buffalo broke through in the seventh inning. With junior outfielder Kristen Gallipani on third base, sophomore Alexandra Bejarano hit into a fielder's choice that sent Gallipani sliding home and gave Buffalo a 2-1 advantage.
Diaz came in to close out the Bulls victory. She struck out two RedHawks in the bottom of the seventh victory and grabbed her 10th win of the season
Buffalo hopes to start a winning streak Friday with a doubleheader against the Akron Zips at Nan Harvey Field. The first of the two games is slated to start at 1 p.m.
Additional reporting by Sports Editor David Sanchirico.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
