Speckman nearly flawless over weekend

The weather was not a friend to the softball team over the weekend, as the team played through cold, wet conditions.

"It was really, really cold," said head coach Jennifer Teague. "We were playing in a little bit of sleet - that's how cold it was ... We're not getting typical spring weather. It's tough; we're hoping we can get on our field to practice this week because we've only got on our field once to practice this season."

The Bulls (12-24, 5-7 Mid-American Conference) split two series over the weekend during their Ohio road trip. They split a doubleheader against the Bowling Green Falcons (21-15, 5-7 MAC) on Friday before pushing on to take one game in their Saturday-Sunday series against the Toledo Rockets (11-15, 5-9 MAC). Junior pitcher Tori Speckman led the charge.

"We threw [Speckman] a lot this weekend and she was as mentally tough as they came," Teague said. "Unfortunately, our bats kind of went cold all weekend and we're looking forward to getting back to Buffalo and trying to figure out why. I think her holding it down for us really helped us this weekend."

Speckman opened the trip by shutting out Bowling Green in the first game of Friday's doubleheader. Speckman allowed only six hits in the game, giving the Bulls a chance to capitalize on the Falcons' lackluster offense.

Buffalo struck in the fourth inning, managing to score the only two runs of the game. The first run came without the Bulls recording a hit.

Junior infielder Sammi Gallardo reached base on an error in right field. A fielder's choice then pushed her to second, and an error from the Falcons' second baseman moved her to third. Junior infielder Heather Ryder grounded out to push Gallardo all the way home.

Sophomore catcher Alexis Curtis recorded the first hit of the game - an infield single. The hit created a perfect opportunity for senior infielder Alyssa Ward to knock in the second run of the game.

Junior pitcher Heather Ryder took to the circle for the second game of the afternoon and kept the scoreboard blank for two innings. The Falcons broke the Bulls pitchers' four-game scoreless streak in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run home run.

Ward launched a comeback attempt in the fourth inning, hitting a one-out double. Freshman infielder Anissa Pinedo later brought her home with a double. The burst of offense saw two more Bulls on base and a Bowling Green pitching change, but Falcons pitcher Jaime Kertes stopped the bleeding.

Speckman started against Toledo on Saturday, and despite freezing temperatures, she took her third shutout in a row this season. Speckman pitched 21 innings and allowed no runs and nine hits over the weekend.

Sophomore outfielder Karly Nevez recorded Buffalo's lone hit. She scored off a misplay by the Toledo second baseman during the next at-bat. The single run was all that was needed for the Bulls to clinch the victory.

Speckman's runless streak lasted seven more innings, until it was broken in the Sunday afternoon loss to Toledo. With Buffalo up 1-0, a late run from the Rockets tied the game and forced extra innings. The Bulls could not commit to an offensive push and were unable to answer a ninth-inning run from Toledo.

"I think our problem was really pitch selection and just understanding our situations," Teague said. "I think we went a little brain-numb and weren't really thinking through our situation or making things easier for ourselves."

The Bulls will stay in Western New York this week. Tuesday's doubleheader against St. Bonaventure (5-31, 2-12 Atlantic 10) was postponed until April 30. Buffalo will host Western Michigan (13-23, 4-6 MAC) in a doubleheader on Friday starting at 1 p.m.

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