UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Behind a strong offensive effort, the University at Buffalo softball team (13-17, 5-3 MAC) was able to collect a doubleheader sweep of the Akron Zips on Tuesday afternoon at Nan Harvey Field. The Bulls opened the day with a 16-1 victory before closing out game two with a 7-4 win.
Through the two games, the UB lineup collected 23 runs and 22 hits as freshman Anna Aguon led the potent attack with a team-best seven RBI.
After the Zips loaded the bases in the first inning and Ally Power worked her way out of trouble without allowing a run, the Buffalo offense struck quickly in the bottom half of the first. Sophomore Jessica Goldyn led off the game for UB with a solo home run to right center field before Leandra Jew worked a walk and Aguon ripped a single into left field. Jenelle Martinez then stepped in and delivered a RBI single to center field to plate Jew and Danielle Lallos connected on a monster three-run home run to left center field to give the Bulls the 5-0 lead. Lace Smith earned a walk and Alissa Karjel singled before Ufuoma Ogagan notched a RBI ground out to send the game to the second inning with UB leading 6-0.
Aguon opened the bottom of the second inning with a double down the left field line and Martinez delivered a RBI single to give UB the 7-0 lead through two innings.
Akron was able to plate their only run of the game in the top of the third inning as Laura Lakins doubled to center field to score Kimberly Rodriguez from third base and make the score 7-1.
Buffalo then added four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the commanding 11-1 lead as Jew connected on a RBI double to center field to score Karjel from second base and Aguon ripped her fourth home run of the season to right center field to score Jew and Goldyn.
After a scoreless top of the fourth for the Zips, Buffalo added five more runs in the bottom half of the inning to seal the 16-1 win. The Bulls loaded the bases as Ogagan tripled, Goldyn singled and Jew was hit by a pitch. Aguon then stepped in and delivered a two-RBI single to center field and Martinez connected on her team-leading fifth homer of the season to left center, a three-run shot.
The 3-4-5 hitters, Aguon, Martinez and Lallos, for the Bulls were able to finish off the first game a combined 9-11 at the plate with three home runs, 11 RBI and seven runs scored in the victory. Aguon went 4-for-4 with a home run, five RBI and four runs scored while Martinez finished off her game going 4-for-4 with five RBI and two runs. Goldyn and Jew each scored three runs in the blowout victory.
In the circle, Power had a great game for the Bulls as she notched her ninth win of the season. The junior went 5.0 innings and allowed five hits, one run and struck out five batters.
The Zips were able to get off to a better start in the second game of the afternoon on Tuesday as they scored a run in the opening inning to take the 1-0 lead. The Zips scored an unearned run after getting a runner on and ripping a double down the left field line.
Buffalo responded quickly in the bottom of the first as Goldyn started the inning with a double to left field and Jew singled to right to give UB runners on the corners. After a Buffalo out, the Bulls performed the double steal to perfection as Jew stole second and forced a throw while Goldyn slid into home. Lallos then recorded a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Jew and give the Bulls the 2-1 lead through one inning.
Power was able to work around inning opening hits for the Zips in the second and third innings to allow UB to add to their lead in the bottom of the third. Goldyn once again began the inning with an infield single and Aguon delivered with a RBI triple into right center field to give UB the 3-1 lead. Lallos then notched her second sacrifice fly to right field of the game to plate Aguon and give the Bulls the three-run lead.
The Zips were able to respond quickly in the fourth inning with three runs to tie the game, 4-4. After a Buffalo error put a runner on base, Kayla Wulf delivered a two-run homer to right field. Another error gave the Zips a base runner and she was able to score as Sydney Jascoe doubled to left field to tie the game.
After a scoreless fourth for the Bulls, the home team broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth inning as Goldyn recorded another infield hit and Jew reached on an error. After a wild pitch moved the runners up, Aguon recorded a RBI groundout to score Goldyn from third. Karjel then stepped in with two outs and poked a single to left field to plate Jew and give the Bulls the 6-4 advantage.
Power worked around a double in the sixth and UB added another run in the bottom half of the inning as Ogagan doubled and moved over to third on a throwing error. She then touched home as Goldyn recorded the sacrifice fly.
The Zips weren’t able to score in the seventh as UB earned their 13th victory of the season, 7-4.
Goldyn had herself a game in game two as she went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and a RBI while Lallos and Aguon each picked up a pair of RBI in the win. Jew continued to get on base as she scored a pair of runs while batting in the two hole on Tuesday.
Power collected her career-best 10th victory of the season as she went 7.0 innings while allowing seven hits and two earned runs. The junior also struck out three batters in the win.
UB will now return to the road on Friday afternoon as they head to Mount Pleasant, MI to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas in a MAC battle. Friday’s game will start at 3:00 pm and the two sides will wrap up play on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm.