Miami (OH)
Bulls Hold on to Edge Miami, 3-2
5/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo baseball team managed to hold its lead for five innings, edging Miami (OH), 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at Amherst Audubon Field in the second game of the weekend conference series. With the victory, the Bulls improve to 22-26 on the season and 8-15 in the Mid-American Conference.
With the game-tying run at third in the top of the ninth, closer Kevin Crumb managed to shut down the RedHawks' offense for the second straight day by striking out Miami's final batter to record the last out of the contest. In the victory, Crumb collected his fifth save of the season, tying the school single-season record for most saves.
Starter Pierre Miville-Deschenes (4-6) picked up the victory in 7.0 innings of work, striking out seven RedHawks to give him 106 career strikeouts. Reliever Brian Pullyblank provided the Bulls with a strong inning of relief in the top of the eighth, striking two of the four batters he faced.
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Buffalo tacked on a pair of runs to recapture the lead, 3-2. Buffalo knotted the contest at 2-2 off a line out to short, allowing senior shortstop Jacob Rosenbeckto score from third, after hitting a leadoff double to start the inning. With senior center fielder Adam Skonieczki positioned at second, freshman catcher Tom Murphy dropped an RBI single into right field. Blazing the base path, Skonieczki managed to round third and beat the throw at home for the Bulls' 3-2 lead and eventual victory.
After strong offensive play in the fourth to gain the lead, the trio of Murphy, Rosenbeck and Skonieczki prevented the RedHawks from tying the contest in the top of the fifth. With two outs and the RedHawks' tying run storming home from second, a relay between Skonieczki, Rosenbeck and Murphy put the runner out at home as Murphy made the tag to end the inning and the RedHawks' chance of tying the contest.
Buffalo opened the contest's scoring for the second consecutive day to take a 1-0 lead over the RedHawks. Senior left fielder Bobby Pizzutodrove in senior first baseman Rob Lawler off an RBI single to right field.
The RedHawks captured a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth off an RBI base hit to right by shortstop Ryan Kaup. Earlier in the inning, the RedHawks tied the game at 1-1 off a sacrifice fly.
Skonieczki went 2-for-3, scoring the game-winning run. Pizzuto collected a pair of hits, including a double and an RBI single.
The Bulls (21-26, 7-15 MAC) will play their final home conference contest of the season as they continue in their weekend series with the RedHawks on Sunday, May 16 with the first pitch at 1:00 pm. The contest will mark Senior Day for 11 Bulls.
