Buffalo Softball caps sweep of Bowling Green with two-win Saturday

It doesn't get much better for Softball fans than this weekend's three-game stretch.

UB capped a sweep of conference rival Bowling Green with 9-3 and 10-5 wins Saturday to move to 8-6 in-conference this season, just the sixth time in program history they've hit that many wins in a MAC season.

Lauren Gambone (5 RBI) and Katie Weimer (4 RBI) led the way for Buffalo on the day, with the freshman Weimer increasing her season total to 40, just three shy of the UB single-seaosn record, held by Breanne Nasti. After leaving six runners stranded yesterday, Weimer got back on track today with home runs in each game. In addition to Weimer and Gambone, Ashton Earnhardt and Savanna Norcio also had three hits on the day.

Buffalo wasted no time in the opener after stranding eight runners in Friday's first three innings. Earnhardt walked and Gambone doubled to bring in four runs, all with two outs, in the first frame alone and stake UB out to a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Weimer's first home run came in the third, scoring Savanna Norcio and Courtney Gilbert, and Gilbert brought in two more with a third-inning double.

That was plenty for Charlotte Miller in her second straight start. The sophomore came out after the sixth inning having surrendered only three runs, and Lace Smith closed out the game, striking out two in the seventh.

UB was slower out of the gate in the nightcap, but still built a 7-1 lead through four innings on the strength of a Weimer homer in the first, a rally from Weimer down to Kenzie Koch in the third, and another string of RBI in the fourth on hits from Earnhardt, Gambone, and Koch.

Bowling Green would score four in the final two innings, but a two-out rally in the sixth helped UB extend their lead and cushion. Smith continued her strong finish to the first game with six more innings, giving up three runs while striking out six.

The Bulls head to Kent State next weekend for a critical seeding matchup against the Golden Flashes, who are also 8-6 in conference. With six of nine remaining games against Kent and Ohio, UB stands a decent chance at claiming a top-six seed in the MAC Tournament this year, a stark improvement over 2015.