UB (17-20, 8-11 MAC) went 2-1 this weekend against Mid-American Conference opponent Ball State (19-25, 12-8 MAC) to hold onto the seventh spot in the MAC standings.
UB won both Saturday matchups, with an 11-8 victory in the first game and a 9-4 victory in the second game. The Cardinals responded Sunday with a 4-0 win.
Graduate utility player Anna Aguon kicked off Saturday’s action with a lead-off walk, as junior pitcher Alexis Lucyshyn followed with a single to the wall in center field to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead after the first inning. UB’s defense showed out as sophomore infielder Ally Sobaszek turned a double play to start the seventh inning.
Sophomore pitcher Julia Tarantino had two strikeouts and three walks to improve her record in the circle to 8-11.
Freshman pitcher Marissa Calloway started the Bulls’ evening game by giving up three runs in the top of the first inning. UB scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to clutch a 4-3 advantage. A home run courtesy of sophomore infielder Rachel Steffan gave Buffalo a five-run advantage which they would hold on to.
The Bulls had 10 hits and seven RBIs in the winning effort. Calloway gave up 10 hits and had three strikeouts.
UB celebrated its Senior Day on Sunday but was not able to finish the weekend off with a win.
Ball State junior pitcher Deborah Jones threw a complete game shutout while home runs from senior shortstop Amaia Daniel and senior left fielder Faith Hensley sealed the victory for the Cardinals. Buffalo had two hits and nine strikeouts at the plate.
The Bulls will return home to face St. Bonaventure (7-34) on Tuesday and Canisius (23-16) on Wednesday before hitting the road for a weekend tripleheader against Central Michigan (22-20, 13-7 MAC) in Mount Pleasant, MI.
The sports desk can be reached at sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Paul Hokanson / UB Athletics
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
