UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO ATHLETICS
BUFFALO — The University at Buffalo softball team concluded the 2017 season on Sunday with a 6-4 loss to Ohio at Dobson Field at D’Youville College.
The Bulls scored two runs in the first inning as freshman Jessica Goldyn opened the first with a double and then she stole third. Freshman Jenelle Martinez followed that up with a walk and a stolen base to put two in scoring position. Goldyn came in to score on an error by the Ohio left fielder as Essence Savinon drove in the run on a sacrifice fly. The Bulls ended up loading the bases with just one away as Karlie Fernandez dumped a single into right, scoring Martinez. UB was unable to do anymore damage as it had a pair of strikeouts with the bases loaded.
UB added another run in the second as Goldyn hit a one-out triple to left center and she then came in to score on a botched run down as the Ohio catcher threw the ball away, give Buffalo a 3-0 lead.
Sophomore Brieanna Baker was sharp for the Bulls early on as she retired the first eight Ohio batters and 12 of the first 13 batters through four innings.
However, the Bobcats came alive in the fifth inning with a two-out rally, scoring four runs on six hits to take the 4-3 advantage. The Bulls tied it back up in the bottom of the fifth as Martinez hit a leadoff single and she came in to score on a single to left center by freshman Gabby Keller.
The Bobcats loaded the bases with one away in the sixth inning and went on to take the lead on a ground-rule double from pinch hitter Desirae Villanueva, scoring two runs and giving Ohio the 6-4 lead.
Buffalo loaded the bases with two away in the sixth, but couldn’t score and the Bulls also hit a one-out single in the seventh.
Sophomore Taylor Light picked up the loss in relief, while senior Bobbi Langlois pitched the final 1.1 inning, allowing just one hit and no runs.
Goldyn went 2-for-3 from the plate with a pair of runs scored, while Keller and Fernandez each went 2-for-4. Martinez and Savinon had the other two hits. In all, seven of UB’s eight hits came from freshmen.
The Bulls conclude the 2017 season with a 9-46 record and a 3-21 record in MAC play.
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