Wednesday’s Softball Results
Buffalo 5, Canisius 2
Buffalo 4, Canisius 3
Kent State 2, Mercyhurst 1
Kent State 6, Mercyhurst 5
Recaps courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications Departments
Buffalo 5, Canisius 2 | Box Score
Buffalo 4, Canisius 3 | Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo softball team (12-17, 3-3 MAC) swept their crosstown rival Canisius (5-16, 1-6 MAAC) on Wednesday afternoon at Nan Harvey Field. The Bulls won the first game of the doubleheader, 5-2, and managed to walk-off the day with a 4-3 win in the bottom of the seventh.
GAME 1
It was an unconventional 1-2-3 inning for the Bulls in the top of the first as Bella Smithson threw out her 10th runner of the season. She then did it on both sides of the plate as she ripped her sixth home run of the season to give Buffalo a 2-0 lead. Nicole Allen came around to score following her single to left center. Bri Delaney kept the party going with a double down the left field line as Abbey Nagel then drove her in to give the Bulls a 3-0 lead after the first.
In the bottom of the third, Reagan Terwilliger hit an inside the park home run to put Buffalo's lead at 4-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Tabitha von Kolen drove a deep shot to left field which was dropped by the fielder allowing her to advance to third. After a pitching change, Emily Gorman grounded out to short, but von Kolen came around to score on the play.
Genevieve Longsdorf and her defense didn't allow a hit for 14 straight batters until a single in the fifth inning. The Golden Griffins didn't threaten to score despite reaching base.
In the top of the sixth, the Golden Griffins' offense broke through with a solo home run to left center to make it a 5-1 Buffalo lead. They cut Buffalo's lead to 5-2 in the seventh inning with an RBI double, but their offense couldn't muster anything else up as Buffalo took the 5-2 win.
Allen, Smithson and Delaney each had two hits. Longsdorf went the distance allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeouts.
GAME 2
Canisius looked as though they would break through in the first inning, but a stellar defensive play by Bri Delaney turned a first and second situation into a double play to calm the Golden Griffins' offense. In the bottom of the inning, Reagan Terwilliger singled to start the inning. Terwilliger then stole second base as Nicole Allen then put runners on the corners with an infield single. Bella Smithson loaded the bases with a walk to bring Delaney up to the plate. She hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Terwilliger to give Buffalo to early 1-0 lead. With just one out, the Bulls didn't capitalize on the situation.
The Golden Griffins tied the game in the top of the second on an error by the Bulls. The damage was limited to just one run. Their momentum carried over to the fourth inning as they managed to string a few hits together to take a 3-1 lead. Ardyn Hopf cut their deficit to one as she hit her second home run of the season to make it 3-2. Buffalo ended up getting runners on first and second with just one out, but failed to tie or take the lead.
The Bulls held off Canisius and looked as though they'd tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. Hopf earned a lead off walk, but advanced to second on a sac bunt by Lily Lauck. With Hopf in scoring position, Delaney hit a deep fly ball to right as Hopf advanced to third. Terwilliger then drove the ball up the middle, but was caught by the centerfielder to end the inning.
With the lead intact, Canisius failed to add any insurance runs as they headed to the bottom of the seventh with a 3-2 lead. Allen started the inning off with a single to center followed by a walk by Smithson. Sophia Avin, the winning run, pinch ran for Smithson. Delaney caught the Golden Griffins sleeping as she reached on a bunt to load the bases. Abbey Nagel saved the day with a deep ball to left reaching the warning track, but it was dropped by the fielder as both Allen and Avin came around to score to take the 4-3 win.
Terwilliger and Allen were the only Bulls to have multiple hits in the game. The Bulls stayed the course despite getting outhit, 12-7.
Olivia Russ earned the win with 3.1 innings pitched and no runs allowed. She struckout a pair of batters.
The Bulls are back in action on Friday they'll travel to Bowling Green, Ohio for a three-game series against the Falcons.
Kent State 2, Mercyhurst 1 | Box Score
Kent State 6, Mercyhurst 5 | Box Score
KENT – Kent State Softball (14-13, 4-2 MAC) swept a non-conference doubleheader from Mercyhurst University on Wednesday afternoon at Devine Diamond, rallying for 2-1 and 6-5 walk-off victories. The sweep kept Kent State a perfect 5-0 at home so far this season.
Game 1: Kent State 2, Mercyhurst 1
Mercyhurst grabbed an early lead in the top of the first inning getting one across to take a 1-0 advantage. This ended up being the only run the Lakers would get across in the ballgame.
Kent State cut into the deficit in the fifth inning when Ashlyn Porter led off with a single to center field. After Leilani Johnson grounded out to advance Porter to second, Gabby Quinn delivered an RBI double to left field to score Porter and tie the game at 1-1.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Johnson led off with a single to center field then was replaced by pinch runner Kelsey Salopek on first. After Salopek advanced to second on a wild pitch, Quinn delivered the game-winning RBI single to center field to score Salopek and give Kent State a 2-1 walk-off victory.
Riley Miller worked the first six innings and allowed one run on three hits while striking out a season high seven batters. Meadow Ferri earned the win in relief pitching a scoreless seventh inning and allowing one hit and earning one K. At the plate, Quinn led the Golden Flashes with a 2-for-3 performance including a double and two RBIs. Nogay went 1-for-3 with a stolen base, Porter finished 1-for-3, and Johnson added a 1-for-3 effort.
Game 2: Kent State 6, Mercyhurst 5
A similar start in game two, Mercyhurst took an early lead with one unearned run in the top of the first inning before extending the advantage to 2-0 with a solo home run in the third.
The Golden Flashes responded in the bottom of the third when Brooke Aberle led off with a single to center field and advanced to second on an error. Aberle moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Nogay to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Golden Flashes took their first lead of the game with three runs in the fifth inning. Alex Trevena led off with a single to the pitcher and Aberle followed with a single to center field. Nogay advanced both runners with a bunt single to third base, and Trevena scored on a wild pitch to tie the game 2-2. Libler plated Aberle with a sacrifice fly to left field to give Kent State a 3-2 lead. After Caleigh Shaulis flied out to advance Nogay to third, Megan Claerhout delivered an RBI single to center field to score Nogay and extend the advantage to 4-2.
Mercyhurst answered with three runs in the top of the sixth inning to regain the lead at 5-4.
In the bottom of the seventh, Nogay led off with a single to left field and advanced to second when Libler flied out. Shaulis tied the game with an RBI double to center field to score Nogay. Claerhout followed with a walk-off RBI single that found a gap in center field scoring Shaulis from second to give the Golden Flashes a 6-5 victory.
Riley Miller earned the win, working a scoreless seventh inning and allowing one hit while inducing two ground ball outs. At bat, Claerhout led Kent State with a 3-for-4 performance including two RBIs. Nogay went 2-for-3, Aberle finished 2-for-3, and Shaulis was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Trevena added a 1-for-3 effort, Porter went 1-for-3, and Libler contributed an RBI with a sacrifice fly.
Kent State will now turn their attention to their second road MAC series of the season at Miami (OH) University. The series gets underway on Friday, March 27 at 3:00 p.m., and continues Saturday, March 28 with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. The series finale is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
