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Sports Recap
Adrian Daniels of the baseball team hit .333 (7-of-21) for the week in six games during the Bulls' spring trip. Daniels went 4-for-4 in UB's opening game against Davidson and concluded the week on a high note by smacking the game-winning home run in the 10th inning to give UB an 11-9 victory at Towson. Daniels is hitting .289 for the season and has knocked in six runs.
Ann Magur of the softball team went 4-for-5 with a double, a run scored and two RBIs in a doubleheader loss to the host Spartans at the San Jose State Invitational. The center fielder went 1-for-2 in the opener, a 4-3 eight-inning loss, and then went 3-of-3 from the leadoff position in the nightcap and knocked in UB's lone run. For the rain-shortened three-game tournament, Magur hit .444 (4-of-9).
Basketball
MEN'S
Northern Illinois 81, UB 64 (MAC first round)
The 2002-03 season came to an end for the Bulls on March 10 with an 81-64 loss to Northern Illinois in the opening round of the FirstEnergy Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Northern Illinois jumped out to a 16-4 lead to start the game and things looked bleak for the Bulls. However, UB was able to slowly get back into the game, keeping NIU to a two-point lead, 38-36, at the half.
The Huskies opened the second half on a 10-0 run to establish a 48-36 lead. The Bulls hung around and a Jason Bird three-pointer cut the lead to six points with 7:56 remaining. However, UB could get no closer as its shooters went cold down the stretch and Northern Illinois converted on its free throws.
With the loss, the Bulls ended the season with a record of 5-23. It marks the fourth straight year that UB has been ousted in the first round of the MAC Tournament.
WOMEN'S
Ball State 81, UB 63 (MAC quarterfinals)
After a memorable season, UB ran into a buzzsaw in the MAC quarterfinals against Ball State. The Cardinals took advantage of injuries and a rare poor shooting performance by the Bulls to score an 81-63 victory to advance to the semifinals of the tournament at Gund Arena in Cleveland.
For UB (18-11), it was the end to a terrific season that saw the Bulls increase their win total by nine games and go further than anyone expected. On this night, however, injuries to two of their top four scorers, Jessica Kochendorfer and Erin Lawrenson, was too much to overcome against the powerful Cardinals.
Diving
Lee, Burton compete in NCAA Zone Championships
UB hosted the 2003 NCAA Men's and Women's Zone A Diving Championships last weekend. Freshman divers Patrick Lee and Ashlee Burton competed in the event for the Bulls, with both posting strong results. Lee tallied 515.70 points to finish eighth in the one-meter competition, while Burton finished 15th overall in the three-meter event with 373.90 points.
Lee also placed seventh in a 22-diver field in the men's three-meter competition with 432.40 points. Competing in both the one-meter and platform events, Burton finished 27th among 39 divers on the springboard at 192.10 points and took sixth in a seven-entrant field on the platform with 309.30 points.
Baseball
Davidson 7, UB 1
UB 6, Davidson 5 (10)
James Madison 13, UB 2
Towson 2-5, UB 0-3
UB 11, Towson 9 (10)
UB spent its spring break down south, playing games in North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland.
The Bulls split a two-game series with Davidson on March 10 and 11. Despite losing 7-1 to the Wildcats on March 10, the Bulls got a solid performance at the plate from Adrian Daniels, who went a perfect 4-for-4 on the afternoon. In the March 11 contest, John Boom hit a two-out RBI single in the 10th inning to give the Bulls a 6-5 win.
UB dropped a 13-2 decision to James Madison on March 13, and followed that by dropping two out of three closely contested games to Towson..
The first game of the doubleheader on Saturday was a pitchers' duel. UB starter Tyler Balentine went the distance, allowing two earned runs and scattering seven hits over six innings. However, Towson starter Stephen Merson was nearly unhitable, allowing only one hit and striking out four. UB fell, 5-3, to Towson in the nightcap.
The Bulls concluded their spring break trip with a thrilling, come-from-behind win over Towson on Sunday afternoon. Daniels hit a two-run home run with one out in the top of the 10th inning as UB rallied from an 8-4 eighth inning deficit to top the Tigers.
Softball
San Jose State 4-4, UB 3-1 (first game 8 innings)
Southern Utah 3, UB 0
UB suffered three losses at the San Jose State Invitational last week to conclude its 12-day road trip and put its record at 6-8 overall for the season.
The Bulls dropped both ends of a doubleheader to the host Spartans on March 13, 4-3 in eight innings in game one and 4-1 in game two. They then suffered a 3-0 loss to Southern Utah on Friday. Saturday's second game with Southern Utah was cancelled due to poor field conditions after an overnight rain storm.
Tennis
MEN'S
UB 7, Rhode Island 0
UB 6, Ohio Dominican 1
UB 4, St. Cloud State 3
Stetson 7, UB 0
UB went 3-1 in its spring break trip to Florida, opening the trip with a pair of convincing wins over Rhode Island, 7-0, and Ohio Dominican, 6-1. Both matches were played at Sanlando Park in Orlando.
Against Rhode Island, the Bulls did not lose a set, although the Rams put up a good fight. In singles action, number two player Randy Rocchio needed a tiebreaker game to defeat Dustin Parente, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5 in the tiebreaker) in the closest match of the day.
In the match against Ohio Dominican, UB used three new doubles combinations—winning the number two and three matches—to earn the one point. UB took five of the six singles matches as well.
UB then picked up a 4-3 win over Division II member St. Cloud State. The Bulls dropped the doubles point, winning just one of the three matches, but pulled the match out in the singles competition, winning all four of their points.
However, the brakes were put to the UB win streak in the final match of trip when the Bulls fell to a strong Stetson team, 7-0, in DeLand. UB fell to 8-7 overall and finished the spring break trip with a 3-1 record. The Bulls dropped the doubles point winning just one of the three matches, and Stetson took all six singles matches.
WOMEN'S
Hawaii 7, UB 0
UB dropped a 7-0 decision to Hawaii at the Central Oahu Tennis Complex to complete its three-match spring break competition. The Bulls even their record to 6-6 as they return to the mainland.
The Rainbow Wahine picked up the doubles point with wins in all three matches. The Bulls also were swept in the singles matches, although Kristen Ortman did record a set victory in her number two match against Stacy Hakikawa. Ortman took the first set, 6-4, but dropped the second, 6-3, to set up the tiebreaker, won by Hakikawa, 10-7.
The remainder of the Bulls' spring schedule consists of MAC contests. UB is back in action on March 28 and 29 when it travels to Miami (OH) and Marshall.