Softball Heads To Marshall Invitational
HUNTINGTON, WV – After a week off, the University at Buffalo softball team will be back in action this weekend as it heads to the Marshall Invitational. UB will get things going tomorrow morning when it faces Presbyterian at 9:00 am.
In addition to facing the Blue Hose, UB will also face Marshall and MAC rival Kent State in a non-conference game. The Bulls have already faced Marshall once this season, defeating it in the opener of the Georgia Softball Classic, 5-4.
After a tough schedule to start the year, the Bulls (2-8) are a combined 0-4 against ACC, Big 12 and SEC teams. Junior Holly Johnson threw a four-hit shutout in a win over Winthrop. Freshman Tori Pettine is batting .292 on the year. In a victory over Marshall, Pettine went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Freshman Holly Luciano is hitting .280 and her six stolen bases rank second in the MAC.
The Blue Hose (7-1-1) are off to their best start in program history. Junior Leslie Hensley was recently named Big South Pitcher of the Week. Last weekend, she went 3-1 with three shutouts and an ERA of 0.27. She struck out 27 batters, including 10 in a 3-0 win vs. Rider. Presbyterian shut out five opponents during its seven-game winning streak to start the season. Senior Brittany Howell is 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA. Sophomore Tera Powell leads the offense, hitting .310 with two doubles and six stolen bases.
The Thundering Herd (6-8) is coming off a 2-2 weekend at the Auburn War Eagle Classic with wins over Georgia Southern and Belmont. Sophomores Jazmine Valle (.263) and Taylor Thompson (.308) each went 3-for-3 against Belmont, while freshman Natalee Pulver tossed a shutout. Sophomore Andi Williamson earned her fifth win of the year in a shutout of Georgia Southern. Sophomore Brianna Hope is hitting .357. Four Marshall players have six or more stolen bases.
Kent State (5-9) is playing in its fourth consecutive weekend away from home. Freshman Alex Marcantoni went 6-for-11 (.545) with six walks, a double and six runs scored, giving her a .722 on-base percentage and an .822 slugging percentage in five games last week for the Golden Flashes. The Bulls will be playing Kent State at a neutral site for the first time since the 2005 MAC Tournament.