Softball
UB will play their first home conference games of the season this weekend when they face Northern Illinois in a doubleheader on Saturday and Eastern Michigan in a doubleheader Sunday. The first game on both days begins at 1 p.m.
The Bulls are 1-3 in the Mid-American Conference this season but have the league's No. 4 rated pitching staff and No. 1 defense. UB, however, ranks fourth-last in batting average.
On the other hand, Northern Illinois (4-1 MAC) ranks fifth in batting average, and second in both slugging percentage and on base percentage.
Eastern Michigan is struggling in all phases of the game. The Eagles (1-7 MAC) rank dead last in batting average, hitting just .197 as a team. They also have the league's worst overall ERA at 5.83, and hold a 3-21 overall record.
Buffalo's AAA baseball team opened the season Thursday and the game-time temperature of 29 degrees did not deter their offense as the team defeated Pawtucket 10-8.
The Bisons put together a seven-run fifth inning to turn a 3-1 deficit into an 8-3 lead. Pawtucket came back to tie the game at eight, but Buffalo scored two more runs as freezing rain and sleet fell in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure the win.
Jason Boyd (1-0) picked up the win for Buffalo in relief, allowing no earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. Dave Elder pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings to pick up the save for the Bisons.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
