Sports - The Spectrum

SPORTS

Record donation wraps up strong year of athletics contributions

By BEN TARHAN | May 8, 2014

Though UB Athletics claimed two Mid-American Conference East titles and made a bowl game in 2013-14, perhaps its greatest victory came in the realm of fundraising. April 19, prior to the football team's annual spring game, UB alum and donor Tunney Murchie put an exclamation point on the year, surprising the program by donating $3 million - the biggest donation in school history - toward improvements to the football headquarters at the south end of the West Grandstand of UB Stadium.

SPORTS

Bulls win first game of MAC Tournament

By Jordan Grossman | May 8, 2014

It has been a season of firsts for the Buffalo softball team. The Bulls have won the most games in program history and claimed their first-ever Mid-American Conference East regular season title. They took a step toward another first Wednesday with a victory in the opening game of the MAC Tournament. The Bulls (28-20, 11-5 MAC) defeated Northern Illinois (22-30, 10-12 MAC), 11-6, in Akron, Ohio.

SPORTS

Confident' Bulls head into MAC Tournament

By Tom Dinki | May 6, 2014

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.

SPORTS

Top 10 of the D1 Era - No. 2: James Starks

By OWEN O'BRIEN | May 6, 2014

James Starks' historic career at the University at Buffalo began because he never wanted to leave the area. The Niagara Falls native wanted to set a precedent.

SPORTS

For the love of the game

By CHRISTIAN BRUNO | May 6, 2014

The final home game for the men's tennis team was its most important match. The Bulls were fighting for the fourth and final seed for the Mid-American Conference tournament and needed all the support they could get. The Bulls trailed 3-2 after the first five decisions and needed to sweep the final two matches to earn the victory.

SPORTS

Lacrosse falls to Connecticut in first round of PCLL playoffs

By Jordan Grossman | May 5, 2014

When the men's lacrosse team made it to the first round of the playoffs, it knew both phases of its game would need to be superb to escape with a victory.

SPORTS

Quick Hits: Speckman's second no-hitter of season helps softball team claim first-ever MAC East titl

By SPORTS STAFF | May 4, 2014

Softball (27-20, 11-5 Mid-American Conference) The Bulls won their first-ever MAC East regular season championship after sweeping Kent State (24-18, 10-6 MAC) this weekend.

SPORTS

"A fresh start, a fine fit for Barrow"

By BEN TARHAN | May 4, 2014

Your coach thinks there is something wrong with you. All the girls on your softball team have to run a mile and a half in 12 minutes to fully participate in practice, but you can't.

SPORTS

Coach Torgalski challenges baseball team after going 1-2 against Ohio

By ANDY KONIUCH | May 4, 2014

After losing 14-8 Sunday afternoon against Ohio - the last-place team in the Mid-American Conference East - head baseball coach Ron Torgalski is prepared to make changes to the lineup when his team plays Miami Ohio (22-25, 12-9 MAC) next weekend. Friday, the Bulls (21-18, 12-8 MAC) began its last road trip of the season against the Bobcats (10-33, 6-15 MAC) with a 4-3 loss, earning just six hits for the evening.

SPORTS

Top 10 of the D1 Era - No. 3: Javon McCrea

By JOE KONZE JR | May 4, 2014

Junior forward Will Regan recalls multiple times this past season he watched Javon McCrea and sophomore forward Justin Moss battle in practice. Moss, being a strong, physical player, was one of the few on the court that could match McCrea's strength.

SPORTS

Speckman's no-hitter helps Bulls win first-ever MAC East title

By JEFF PLACITO | May 4, 2014

Senior pitcher Tori Speckman's first no-hitter of this season came April 5. It was historic because it was just the third no-hitter in program history. Her second no-hitter, which happened Saturday, was historic for more than one reason: she became the first pitcher in program history to throw more than one no-hitter, and it helped the softball team clinch its first-ever Mid-American Conference East title. The Bulls (27-20, 11-5 MAC) swept Kent Sate (24-18, 10-6 MAC) in a two-game series this weekend to earn their first MAC East title and set a new single-season wins record (27). The team also tied the program's record for conference wins (11). The softball team enters the MAC Tournament as the No.

SPORTS

An unbreakable bond

By JEFF PLACITO | May 1, 2014

It starts with a quick glance and subtle smirk. There is a connection between sophomore tennis players Sergio Arevalillo and Pablo Alvarez that requires no words for them to understand each other. "We just look at each other and know what's going on," Alvarez said.

SPORTS

"Quick Hits: David wins MAC Player of the Year, baseball and softball head toward stretch run of seas"

By SPORTS STAFF | May 1, 2014

Baseball (20-16, 11-6 Mid-American Conference) After having their doubleheader against Niagara (13-24, 6-10 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) Tuesday postponed, the Bulls go on the road to face Ohio (8-31, 4-14 MAC), which is currently in last place in the MAC East.

SPORTS

Top 10 of the D1 Era - No. 4: Brittney Kuras

By BEN TARHAN | May 1, 2014

Brittney Kuras needed to be two tenths of a second faster. She swam in the preliminaries of the 100-yard freestyle at the 2014 Mid-American Conference Championships and finished with a time of 48.9.

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Former UB coach Witherspoon signs as assistant at Alabama

By AARON MANSFIELD | Apr. 30, 2014

As Reggie Witherspoon answered the final question and his in-home press conference concluded, the friends, family members and former players sitting behind Witherspoon in support proclaimed, "Roll Tide." Wednesday, Witherspoon announced he is heading to the SEC to become an assistant coach at the University of Alabama.

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UB's Peaceful Warrior

By Jordan Grossman | Apr. 29, 2014

On April 6, senior pitcher/infielder Mike Burke hurled a complete game for the baseball team, allowing only two earned runs and striking out five to improve his season record to 4-2. When he left the mound after the ninth inning, the Bulls' coaching staff had surprising news for him: he had set a new school record with 18 wins. Many athletes would soak up the moment and celebrate their historic feat.

SPORTS

Top moments from seniors in 2013-14

By SPORTS EDITORS | Apr. 29, 2014

Alex Neutz, football Neutz caught six passes for 197 yards and a touchdown - in the first half - against Baylor University Sept.

SPORTS

Top 10 of the D1 Era - No. 5: Desi Green

By JOE KONZE JR | Apr. 29, 2014

When Rush-Henrietta wrestling coach Mickey Marlowe was coaching his first year of middle school football, he noticed a kid on the field who was small but had serious grit and toughness. Marlowe watched as the seventh grader sprinted around the field making tackles and didn't back down from anyone. As a wrestling coach first, Marlowe saw the raw qualities of a wrestler: athleticism, quickness and confidence. "I would just watch him tackle and I thought he'd be a decent football player," Marlowe said.

SPORTS

Quick Hits

By SPORTS STAFF | Apr. 27, 2014

Men's tennis (12-8, 2-4 Mid-American Conference) Buffalo lost the MAC Tournament championship match, 4-3 to No.

SPORTS

Baseball team sweeps Akron

By Tom Dinki | Apr. 27, 2014

Over its past 15 games, the baseball team has traded-off on winning and losing streaks. The Bulls are currently enjoying a three-game winning streak, and with the final month of the season approaching, they can ill afford to begin a losing streak. The Bulls (20-16, 11-6 Mid-American Conference) swept Akron (22-21, 9-9 MAC) in a three-game series this weekend at Amherst Audubon Field.