Kent State
Bulls Fall in Conference Series Opener to Kent State, 9-4
4/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo baseball team fell to Kent State, 9-4, in the conference series opener on Friday afternoon at Amherst Audubon Field. The Bulls even their overall record at 18-18 and fall to 4-9 in the Mid-American Conference.
After scoreless first and second innings, Kent State jumped out to a 2-0 lead off a two-RBI double to the right field wall by outfielder Anthony Gallas with runners on second and third.
Buffalo tallied its first run of the afternoon to cut the Golden Flashes' lead in half, 2-1, in the bottom of third. Senior left fielder Bobby Pizzutodropped an RBI base hit just inside the left field line to score senior second baseman Brad Agustin, who doubled down the left field line to reach base.
Gallas would strike again in the top of the fourth, doubling the Golden Flashes' run total to 4-1 off a two-RBI single to right field. With two outs, Agustin ended Kent State's chances of extending its lead with a diving play on a ball up the middle, throwing the runner out at first.
In the top of the fifth, the Golden Flashes kept their string of runs going by scoring a pair to extend the lead to 6-1.
The Bulls once again cut the Golden Flashes' lead to 6-3 as Agustin slapped a two-RBI triple into left center with the ball going over the head of center fielder Jared Humphreys and bouncing to the wall. UB continued to cut into Kent State's lead in the bottom of the fifth, 6-4, off a ground out to second by Pizzuto, driving in Agustin from third.
Following a scoreless bottom of the sixth for the Bulls, Kent State tallied three runs to further its lead to 9-4, including a leadoff home run by third baseman Travis Shaw.
Buffalo would be held scoreless in the final four innings, eventually falling to Kent State, 9-4.
Agustin went 2-for-4 including two runs and two RBIs while senior shortstop Jacob Rosenbeck collected a team-high three hits.
Starter Chaz Mye (3-5) recorded the Bulls' loss in 4.0 innings of work, striking out three batters. Reliever Mike Klaus had a strong showing in 2.0 innings of relief work, striking out two of the six batters he faced.
Due to inclement weather forecast for Sunday, April 25, the Bulls (18-17, 4-8 MAC) will face Kent State in a conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 24 with the first pitch at 12:00 pm.
