Last season, the softball team did not score its 29th run until its 14th game. This season, the team accomplished that feat in two games.
Buffalo's hot start, in which it began the season 6-0, set a precedent for a new era and mindset under first-year head coach Trena Peel - a mindset that has helped the team win the most games in program history and claim its first-ever Mid-American Conference East title.
After a historic regular season, the Bulls (27-20, 11-5 MAC) will make their third-ever MAC Tournament appearance Wednesday as the No. 2 seed - their highest seeding ever. Buffalo faces Northern Illinois (22-29, 10-12 MAC) to start the tournament.
"I just think they were tired of losing," Peel said. "They had the mentality that they wanted to change the culture ... and really be the first group to change the culture of UB."
Peel said she and the coaching staff set out to create a "demanding" environment for the Bulls. She believes the team's start helped her players realize that what the coaches were asking of them wasn't "anything of out the norm" and would make them successful in the long run.
"They were pretty much sponges all year trying to learn and get better and wanting to get better," Peel said. "I think with starting the season 6-0, that helped. They were like, 'OK, this does work.'"
In addition to setting team records, the Bulls have had several players break all-time individual records.
Senior Tori Speckman became the program's all-time leader in wins April 27 in a 6-2 win over Northern Illinois. Speckman finished the regular season with 19 wins - a single-season program record - and has 45 for her career. She threw two no-hitters this season, becoming the first player in the softball team's history to throw more than one no-hitter in a career.
Speckman has been dominant heading into the tournament. She finished the regular season strong, going 5-0 and giving up just six earned runs and 19 hits in her last five starts.
In the same weekend Speckman broke the program record for career wins, senior infielder Sammi Gallardo became the program's all-time leader in home runs (29) when she hit two in a 6-5 win over Western Michigan April 25. Gallardo also broke the single-season home run record of 11 this season, ultimately finishing with 15 home runs and 39 RBIs.
Buffalo also got an impressive season out of another one of its seniors: outfielder Holly Luciano. Luciano was first on the team in batting average (.350) and stolen bases (15) and second in RBIs (32).
Speckman, Gallardo and Luciano were named to the All-MAC first team Tuesday. Before this season, the Bulls had only three players ever named to the All-MAC first team.
"Any championship team has to have great senior leadership," Peel said. "I believe that and always have. Our seniors have lost for three years and never made it to the tournament, so they were hungry. Through their hunger and their passion and them leading by example, everybody else followed in their footsteps."
The addition of newcomer Hayley Barrow has made the team stronger. Barrow transferred from the University of Central Florida and has had an immediate impact on the Bulls' lineup. The junior catcher/third baseman is second on the team in home runs (5) and fourth in RBIs (18).
Barrow has also made an impact on the mound, as she has been the Bulls' second starter behind Speckman over the past month. Barrow is 2-2 with a 3.50 ERA - second on the team behind Speckman.
Peel describes the team's mindset as "confident" heading into the tournament.
"They're fighting, they're swinging the bat, they're one unit right now," Peel said. "The dugout is rocking every inning. The expectation is to win and to get to the postseason, to get to the NCAA Tournament, and I think we understand that the only thing that can beat us is us. When we execute, when we swing the bat, when pitching is on point, no one can stop us. They believe that and they know it. As long as they're on their 'A' game, we should pull this off."
The Bulls face Northern Illinois Wednesday in Akron, Ohio, in the first game of the tournament. First pitch is set for 5 pm.
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