Eagles Fall in Final Game of Homestand, 5-3

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University softball team dropped its seventh-straight game Sunday, April 7, when the University at Buffalo downed the Eagles, 5-3, at Varsity Field for the second consecutive day. The Eagles had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but could fell short of the runs needed to take the game.

Offensively, the Eagles (10-19-1; 1-5 MAC) had five hits on the day. Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles) led the way with her sixth home run of the season, while Courtney Loe (Temperance, Mich.-Bedford) and Amanda Stanton (Homer Glen, Ill.-Lockport Township) each had an RBI. The Bulls (8-22; 3-5 MAC) scored five runs on 10 hits.

Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) earned the start for EMU tossing three. Ignowski was touched up for two runs on four hits, while walking two. Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell) came on in relief for the Eagles, tossing the final four innings. Wells (0-10) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits and striking out five. Tori Speckman (4-5) earned the win for the Bulls after throwing the final 4.1 innings in relief and allowing just one run on three hits.

The Bulls opened up the scoring in the top of the first when Sammi Gallardo led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. The Buffalo second baseman then moved to third on a single through the left side by the Bulls' catcher Alyssa Ward. In the next at-bat, Heather Ryder hit a shallow popup to left field caught by Katy Blaharski (Carleton, Mich.-Airport). After making the catch, Blaharski and the Eagles' centerfielder, Courtney Nicholson (Navarre, Ohio-Canton Central Catholic), collided allowing the runner at third to advance and score the first run of the game and give Buffalo a 1-0 lead.

The Bulls tacked on to their lead when Jessica Griffin launched her first homer of the 2013 campaign with a shot to center field, putting Buffalo up 2-0 in the second, with the one-run homer.

Coquillard led the bottom of the second off with a single to left and moved up to second when Stanton was hit by a pitch. The bases were loaded on an error by the Buffalo shortstop and then Loe drew a walk to score the Eagles' first run of the game and make the score 2-1.

Coquillard knotted up the game in the bottom of the third with her sixth long ball of the 2013 campaign. The solo shot made it 2-2.

The Bulls regained the lead in the fifth. Anissa Pinedo knocked a double down the right field line which prompted the Buffalo head coach, Jennifer Teague, to put Holly Luciano into pinch run for Pinedo. Luciano came around to score off of Griffin's single that tipped just off of the glove of the out stretched arm of Amanda Herron (Columbus, Ohio-St. Francis De Sales) at first base. The run gave Buffalo a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Buffalo again added to the lead in the sixth. Gallardo drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a fielder's choice off the bat of Curtiss. Ward then shot a pitch back up the middle with runners at first and second in the next at-bat, scoring Gallardo and putting the Bulls on top 4-2. With runners at second and third Wells tossed a wild pitch putting Buffalo up 5-2 after five and a half innings of play.

The Eagles attempted to make a comeback in the seventh, by loading the bases for Stanton with two outs. The junior came through with a single to left field, scoring Blaharski from third and bringing the Green and White to within two runs, 5-3. EMU could not convert in the ensuing at bat and fell by the final tally of 5-3.

The Eagles continue the 2013 campaign Tuesday, April 9, in Fort Wayne, Ind. when they take on the IPFW Mastodons. First pitch for the doubleheader at the IPFW Softball Field is set for 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

Next Event

Team Stats

Nellie Coquillard

Katy Blaharski

Amanda Herron

Amanda Stanton

Eastern Michigan Athletics