UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO ATHLETICS
AKRON, O.H. — The University at Buffalo softball team (14-20, 6-6 MAC) got back to their winning ways on Wednesday afternoon on the road against Akron as they were able to collect the regular season sweep of the Zips with a 4-2 victory. Ally Power went the distance in the circle for the Bulls as she notched her career-best 11th victory of the season, most in a single season for a Buffalo pitcher since Tori Speckman won 22 games in 2014.
Buffalo wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first inning as Leandra Jew notched a single to right center field and Anna Aguon connected on her fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot, to left field to give the Bulls the early 2-0 lead over the Zips.
After starting pitcher Ally Power worked around some trouble in the first two innings without allowing a run, the junior couldn’t preserve the 2-0 lead in the fourth as the Zips tied the game with a pair of runs. Power walked the first two batters of the inning and Laura Lakins struck with a two-RBI single to left center to tie the game.
The Bulls were able to regain the lead in the top of the fifth inning as Ufuoma Ogagan started things off with a single to right field and Jessica Goldyn plated her with a RBI double. After Jew bunted Goldyn over to third base, Jenelle Martinez gave UB the 4-2 lead with a RBI single, her team-leading 29th RBI of the season.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Power was able to get out of a jam as the Zips put runners on the corners after an error. With Maddy Clowdus at the plate and the tying runners on base, Power forced a pop up to first base for the final out, sending the game to the seventh with UB leading 4-2.
The Buffalo offense was once again powered by the top half of their lineup as Aguon went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI while Goldyn went 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored in the leadoff spot. Martinez also went 1-for-4 with a RBI while Alissa Karjel, Alyssa Cuevas and Ogagan each notched a hit in the win.
Power went 7.0 innings and allowed eight hits and two runs while striking out a pair of batters in her team-best 11th victory of the season. Power lowered her season ERA to 4.12 in the win.
The Bulls will return home on Friday afternoon as they welcome the Bowling Green Flacons to Nan Harvey Field for the first game of a three-game series. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm as the UB women’s basketball seniors will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitches to kick off the festivities on Friday. The two sides will wrap up the series on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm.
