Bulls Lose Second Straight Extra-Inning Affair

Wednesday, March 30

3 pm

University at Buffalo

7-11

Canisius

11-14

BUFFALO

Canisius

Bulls Lose Second Straight Extra-Inning Affair

3/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

BUFFALO, NY - Spurred on by another sterling effort from freshman pitcher Cory Folk, the Bulls took control Wednesday afternoon against Canisius late in the game, but two separate rallies from the Golden Griffins doomed the team to its second straight loss in extra innings, 5-4.

Folk, making his second start of the season, tossed eight innings and gave up three runs while striking out six. It was his second straight quality start and the eight innings of work were the most by any Buffalo starter so far this season. Through the first eight innings, the only runs the Liverpool, NY native allowed was on a sacrifice fly and a fielder's choice.

Meanwhile, the Bulls offense were equally challenged by Canisius' pitching staff. It was able to break through in the fourth inning thanks to a two-out rally. Singles by River McWilliams and Jordan Camp put the team in contention and Michael Burke laced a ground-rule double to score McWilliams from second. Andrew Smietana had a run-scoring single to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead that would only last until the bottom of the inning when the Griffs would knot it back up again.

The two pitching staffs held serve until the eighth inning, when a hit by pitch and two walks loaded the bases with only one out. Eric Bryce came through with a sacrifice fly but that would be all the team could manage, stranding two runners that would come back to hurt them in the next inning.

Canisius got a leadoff double that chased Folk and brought in Jeff Thompson to put out the early fire. The Griffs scored the runner on a single but Thompson was able to strand two runners to move the game to extra innings.

In the top of the tenth, Buffalo got three straight singles with one out to threaten yet again. Bryce was again able to drive the run in, this time on a fielder's choice, but the Bulls stranded two more runners.

In the bottom of the inning, Thompson got two quick outs but then walked a batter and then allowed a walk-off home run to end the game. The Bulls outhit Canisius 12-6 but stranded nine runners in the game.

The team will now open the home schedule of the regular season by welcoming in Northern Illinois Friday for three games in three days, weather permitting. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 3 pm.