UB Softball drops 1-0 heartbreaker to Akron

It's been rare this season that UB Softball has put together a game where all of pitching, defense, and offense come together, and it's very nearly as rare that the Bulls bring strong pitching and defense but struggle to score.

The offense has been streaky, sure, but the big standouts of this season have been big innings and lots of errors. In this afternoon's 1-0 loss to Akron the Bulls got one of the best pitching performances of the year, and committed no errors, but managed only three hits and two further baserunners against Akron's Erin Seiler.

The star of the game for Buffalo was unquestionably freshman pitcher Charlotte Miller, who's shown improvement this season. Today she went a season-long 7.0 innings, allowed just three hits and one run. The three hits tied her lowest in any appearance of 4 innings or longer this season, and the one run tied her lowest in any appearance of any length.

Unfortunately, Akron's Erin Seiler was just as good, allowing no runs on three hits, and crucially not giving up a home run in the seventh. Buffalo had higher quality chances than the Zips: first and second with two outs in the fourth, and Danielle Lallos on third with one out in the fifth, but Akron scored from the batter's box in the seventh and that was that.

Still, there's a lot to like about this one. UB committed no errors, and not for lack of opportunity, as Miller only struck out two. The freshman was also economical with her pitches, walking only one in the loss.

Buffalo and the Zips will play again tomorrow afternoon, in another "home" game for the Bulls. I may not be able to cover it live, but we'll have a recap either way.

Go Bulls