Softball (10-19, 4-1 MAC) went undefeated in a three-game homestand against the Bowling Green Falcons (8-22, 1-9 MAC) this past weekend, marking their fourth-straight win in conference play.
UB came out swinging in the first game of a double header Saturday, taking an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with an RBI double by junior infielder Madison Fernimen.
After surrendering a two-run single in the second inning, junior outfielder Sara Kelly responded with a two-run homer, her second of the season, reclaiming the Bulls’ lead in the third.
A solo home run from Fernimen in the fifth inning increased UB’s lead to 4-2. The Bulls kept that momentum going, even after a two-hour weather delay following Fernimen’s home run. They scored four more runs after the delay, courtesy of RBI doubles from freshman shortstop Avelyn Van Heyst, freshman first baseman Abbey Nagel and senior pitcher Alexis Lucyshyn.
Lucyshyn fanned 12 batters over six innings in her complete game outing, sealing an 8-4 victory to begin the weekend.
The Bulls started their second game of the series Saturday evening with junior pitcher Julia Tarantino on the mound. The game was postponed to Sunday after two innings due to darkness, as a result of Game 1’s weather delay.
The game remained scoreless through three and a half innings of play until the Bulls scored the first three runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth.
Fernimen led off the inning with a double, eventually scoring via freshman outfielder Mia Mitchell’s sacrifice fly. A two-run home run by junior middle infielder Tianna Williams gave the Bulls a 3-0 lead.
Responding with a solo shot and a three-run homer, the Falcons quickly snatched a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth. UB took advantage of timely mistakes, scoring the game-winning runs on a passed ball and dropped infield pop up.
Tarantino surrendered four runs and four walks and struck out three batters in her complete game outing, edging out a 5-4 victory for the Bulls.
Looking for a series sweep, UB started game two of the day hot at the plate, scoring two runs early in the bottom of the first.
Continuing her hot stretch in the box, Fernimen knocked in two more runs for the Bulls on an RBI single, increasing their lead to 5-0 in the fourth.
The Falcons had no answer for Lucyshyn at the plate. Lucyshyn allowed just two hits in her shutout victory, racking up seven strikeouts.
Leading 5-0 in the sixth, Kelly secured the mercy-rule victory for the Bulls with a three-run blast.
UB will look to continue their success in MAC play with a three-game series this Friday at Miami (OH) (17-14, 5-6 MAC).
The sports desk can be reached at sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
