Marshall University Athletics
Buffalo Hands Softball Its First Conference Loss
3/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Buffalo Hands Softball Its First Conference Loss
3/26/2005
- Box Score
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. ? The University at Buffalo rallied for two runs in the sixth inning to down the Marshall softball team, 3-2, in game three of the series on Saturday afternoon in Mid-American Conference action at Dot Hicks Field.
UB (5-19, 1-2) picked up its first run in the top of the second inning when Ann Magur doubled to centerfield and scored after a wild pitch and a Kristen Jock groundout to give the Bulls their first run of the series.
Marshall (16-12, 2-1) struck back with two of its own in the bottom of the same frame after Courtney Kacenga (Sierra Vista, Ariz.) singled to center and freshman Dee Tourville (Rescue, Calif.) connected for her first career home run and the fifth by a Marshall player in two games, to put MU ahead, 2-1.
But Buffalo came back with a vengeance in the sixth, creating two runs on four hits, including a Julie Hibner double and a trio of singles. Starter Randi Nielson (Tucson, Ariz.) exited for sophomore Abigail Harter (Monmouth, Ore.) halfway through the inning and was able to eventually force a groundout and strikeout one to end the streak, but the damage was done as UB would hand Marshall its first loss of the conference season.
?It?s great to see the long ball,? head coach Shonda Stanton said. ?But our inability to execute at the plate is what hurt us today.?
Nielson slides to 9-6 in 2005 with the loss. The senior allowed five hits in five innings on the mound while striking out seven. Harter gave up two hits and no runs in two innings of work. Stacey Evans picked up the win for UB. The Herd compiled four hits to Buffalo?s seven.
Marshall will take a break from conference action this weekend with a match-up against Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday. The doubleheader is set to begin at 1 p.m.
