Strong Pitching Nets Buffalo Its First Win
3/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
DOVER, DE - Senior pitcher Kevin Crumb rebounded from a tough first start to pitch five strong innings and lead Buffalo to an 18-7 win over Delaware State in the first of three games the teams will play this weekend. The Bulls offense was as potent as ever, scoring 18 runs thanks to a terrific effort at the top of the lineup.
Matt Pollock, Jason Kanzler and Jordan Camp - the first three hitters in the Buffalo starting nine - combined to go 8-17 with 13 runs batted in. The offense put up early season highs in runs scored, hits and home runs, swatting three for the day.
After managing only one hit through the first 2.2 innings, the offense snapped out of it and rallied for three runs with two outs against Delaware State ace Jordan Elliot, who had only allowed one earned run in his first 14 innings this season. It started with an Andrew Smietana walk with two outs, followed by a Pollock single right up the middle. Kanzler smoked a double to right center that scored both runners, and he himself was then driven in on a single from Camp. The two-out rally spurred the team to an offensive output that was more than enough for Crumb.
In the fourth inning, the Bulls loaded the bases with only one out for Smietana, who promptly hit a single to right that scored two and put runners at first and second. Pollock hit a double to score the runner at second and move Smietana to third. Kanzler again stood strong with runners in scoring position, lacing a three-run home run to right field to put the Bulls up 9-1. Two more runs were tacked on in the fifth thanks to an error by the Hornets' first baseman and a sacrifice fly from freshman Michael Scarcello.
Continuing a stretch in which the team scored at least a run in the third through eighth innings, Buffalo extended the lead with a Camp solo shot in the sixth and a two-run double in the seventh before the team scored four in the eighth inning. Alex Baldock led off with a double, followed by a walk to Scahill. A sacrifice bunt moved them both into scoring position and Smietana scored Baldock on a single. Pollock came up and drove them both in with his second home run of the season, a three-run shot to right center field.
With such a dominating performance at the plate, the Buffalo pitching staff did a solid job keeping the Delaware State bats in check. Aside from six runs allowed by Jonathan Fragulia, the Buffalo bullpen pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless relief. Crumb set the tone as the starter, striking out five while scattering five hits. Freshman lefthander Cory Folk was another bright spot, striking out three while walking none in 2.2 innings.
Buffalo will look to take the total team momentum into tomorrow's doubleheader. Due to bad weather in the forecast, the Sunday game was cancelled and moved to 3pm tomorrow, following the 1pm start time for game one.
