In the game of softball, winning is 90 percent mental. For the Buffalo, that mindset is going to be needed if the team is going to climb back from the bottom of the Mid-American Conference standings.
The Bulls will host squads from both Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan this weekend, playing four games total. Both teams are in the top three in the MAC West Division, with Western Michigan the only team to beat them so far this season.
While the Bulls lineup has recovered almost fully from injury, head coach Marie Curran said that there is still a significant player missing.
"With having the other girls back (Erin Zilka and Ashley Kanavy), it's a definite help," Curran said. "We still have Lauren (Picciano) out though, which is a devastating hit for us. She was our No. 3 hitter. We've had to move people around, and the ladies who have come back have made some good adjustments."
Picciano, who is out with a broken arm, has seen some time as a pinch hitter, however, sporting a hard cast in order to play.
Junior pitcher Sophie Barstad has been working this week on keeping things diverse on the mound, mostly because of some of the tough hitters she will have to confront, one being MAC West Player of the Week Ashley Strauss of Eastern Michigan.
"I need to focus on keeping my drops low and my corners better," Barstad said. "I have to mix it up, work in my two-pitch, curve and rise. Every pitch has to be good."
Zilka, a freshman, has since returned to the lineup, and feels she is ready to play where she was before her injury. She is tied for fourth in the conference in homeruns, with five, and with a batting average of .321, ranks second on her team.
"I'm back to where I was," Zilka said. "I haven't had any problems sprinting or cutting."
Second in the West Division, the Eagles (15-8, 3-1 MAC) have a 5-1 record at home, and have won nine of their last 10 games. Curran doesn't think straying away from home advantage will sway their focus.
"Their coach has got them believing they're good," Curran said.
Splitting a pair of games with Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan boasts Ashley Strauss, who in the past week has pounded out a .455 batting average, while slugging out three home runs, scored six runs, stole one base, and knocked in nine runs.
Shortstop Lauren Clark has recorded eight homeruns this season, and pitcher Nikki Denman looks to make a repeat performance of her win over Detroit, allowing just two hits in seven innings.
The Chippewas (10-17, 2-2 MAC) gave up both games to Western Michigan, but rallied past Northern Illinois in both games to earn them the third spot in the West Division. A win on April 4 against Detroit gave Central Michigan bragging rights for winning the last eight home openers since 1999.
Amy Hudson is averaging an impressive .402 at bat, while Brittany Decker is at .308. They have 12 RBIs apiece this season in 28 games played. Decker went 3-for-3 against Detroit, with three RBIs and two homeruns in the win. Chippewa pitcher, Jessica Garvin, has a 2.87 ERA.
The doubleheader against Central Michigan will begin this Friday at 1 p.m., while the Bulls will face off with EMU Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. All four games will take place at UB's Nan Harvey Field.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
