The UB softball team can always count on pitcher Stacey Evans to give them an opportunity to win.
In the first game of the Bulls' (17-19, 5-6 Mid-American Conference) double-header against the Columbia Lions, Evans continued her complete domination over anyone who steps into the batter's box against her in the Bulls 1-0 win on Wednesday afternoon in New York City.
Evans had yet another outstanding game in the top half of the doubleheader, throwing a one hit shutout against the Lions (19-24). She was also able to extend her consecutive innings pitched without an earned run scored to 69.0. Additionally, Evans struck out nine on the day in earning her ninth win of the season.
With the win, Evans lowered her ERA to 1.44, good enough for fourth in the MAC, and dropped her opponent's batting average to .175.
Breanne Nasti, the Bulls offensive leader, scored the Bulls' only run in the seventh inning when Julie Hibner singled her home to score.
The Lions were held to a single hit, an infield single hit by sophomore Lexie Costic.
Lions' pitcher Megan Ivey allowed four hits, and struck out two in the game.
As has been a problem all season, the Bulls' lethargic offense failed to provide much run support in game two of the doubleheader, something that has been a major problem when Evans isn't shutting down opposing batters.
The Bulls allowed Columbia to split the doubleheader, dropping game two 5-1.
UB kept the game close early on, as the two went scoreless through five. However, Columbia scored two runs in the fifth inning and three more in the bottom of the sixth inning to jump out to a 5-0 lead.
The Bulls finally got on the board in the top of the seventh inning when Jessica Labella knocked in Mary Russell for the Bulls' only run of the game.
Megan Ivey of the Lions matched Evans' game one effort, allowing just one hit en route to the complete game shutout.
Bulls Throttle Stony Brook
The Stony Brook Seawolves are probably very glad they only had to endure one day of playing Nasti and the rest of the UB softball team this season based on what happened Thursday in Stony Brook.
Despite a bit of a slow start, the Bulls dominated the first game of their doubleheader, leading the hit category 13-6 and winning 9-3.
The second inning ended with Hayley Durham giving the Seawolves (20-25) the first lead of the game on a solo home-run.
Russell put the Bulls on the board as she stole home in the top of the third. But, UB was just getting started for the inning as Nasti homered off Angela Andrews bringing home Marce Ross and giving Buffalo the 3-1 lead.
The Bulls put the game away in the fifth with five runs, highlighted by Melissa Pace's two-run double. Ann Magur singled to right, bringing home a run and Nasti came up big again with an RBI double and a few batters later she scored as well.
Stony Brook picked up two more runs in the sixth, but Magur homered in the seventh, sealing the deal on the 9-3 UB win. Freshman Sophie Barstad pitched the complete game, giving up only six hits and getting four strikeouts.
Buffalo inched their way closer to a .500 record when they completed their sweep of a doubleheader against the Seawolves at University Field, taking game two by the score of 10-1.
Coming into the game, the Bulls had been wasting some great pitching performances due to their inability to score runs. Over the span, Buffalo has only been able to muster a dismal six runs in total offense over the last eight contests.
When runs are scored Nasti is usually right in the middle of things. Nasti started off the scoring with a first inning solo blast off of Stony Brook starter Sarah Hoffman, putting the Bulls ahead for good.
Buffalo had a six-run fifth inning, capped by another Nasti bomb, giving Bulls' starter Theresa Gugger more than enough breathing room. Nasti's second homerun was a grand slam and gave her five runs batted in for the game.
Gugger made sure all the runs Nasti and the rest of the Bulls were scoring did not go to waste. She pitched remarkably well, coming within just two outs from pitching a shutout.
The shutout was spoiled by Margaret Blair's solo homerun down the left field line. Gugger finished off the next two of the Seawolves' batters to earn her first victory of the year and improve her record to 1-6.
UB will return home for MAC play when they challenge the Western Michigan Broncos for a three-game weekend series starting Saturday at 1 p.m. in a doubleheader.
If UB has plans to defeat the second place team in the MAC West Division, they will probably need a breakout performance from an offense that has yet to show up this season.
Nasti remains the only consistent force in the Bulls' lineup. She leads the team in all major statistical offensive categories and is carrying the load at the plate. On the season, Nasti is hitting .327 with five homeruns and 25 RBI. The Bulls will need someone else in their lineup to help Nasti provide the run support.
Western Michigan (23-19, 10-5 MAC) comes into Buffalo after winning four out of their last five contests. Their recent success can be contributed to this week's MAC West Division Player of the Week, Jaymie Voss.
Voss won the award by batting .600 (9 for 15) for the week with two homeruns and seven runs batted in. She also clubbed four doubles and scored five runs. So far on the season she has belted three homeruns while driving in fourteen runs and batting .331.
Voss is no stranger to MAC honors. The previous week she won MAC West honors as the Pitcher of the Week. This year she has a 4-6 record and a 2.68 ERA as the second starting pitcher on the Broncos' staff.
The ace of the Broncos is Laura Stewart. When she takes the mound, hits are few and far between. She has held batters to a .197 batting average and has only yielded 130 hits over the course of 181.2 innings.
Runs are even harder to come by against Stewart as she has recorded six shutouts thus far this year.
If the Bulls are looking to make up some ground in the standings, the bats of UB better be ready to erupt. Currently in fifth place in the MAC East, Buffalo is running out of season to figure out the offensive woes. Evans and the other UB pitchers have proven they will give the team a chance to win. All they need is a little help from their friends.
