Baseball Splits Doubleheader to Cap Series in Delaware

Saturday, March 5

12 pm

2-5

Delaware St.

3-7

BUFFALO

DELAWARE STATE

Baseball Splits Doubleheader to Cap Series in Delaware

3/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

DOVER, DE - In a doubleheader in which both games went to the wire, Buffalo split an afternoon series with Delaware State Saturday, 5-4 and 7-6 in two seven-inning affairs. Relief pitching was again the focal point for the team's success, and timely hitting allowed Buffalo to take the weekend series in the rubber match.

It was a slow start in game one that saw the Bulls down 2-0 heading in to the fourth inning. A single by Alex Baldock with two out was followed by a hit by Daniel Scahill to right field that was misplayed. Scahill wound up on third base and Baldock scored the unearned run to cut in to the Hornet lead. After yielding two more runs in the fifth, Buffalo tied it back up at 4-4 after scoring three runs in the sixth. Tom Murphy led off with a walk and moved to second on a single from River McWilliams. Scahill again reached on a Delaware State error, scoring Murphy. Michael Burke came up next and score McWilliams with a single straight up the middle and Andrew Smietana followed suit right after to plate Scahill.

The game remained tied in the bottom of the seventh before a bases loaded single scored the walk off run. Starter Josh Edwards pitched four innings and gave up four runs (three earned) while striking out three and walking none. Kevin Hughes and Jeff Thompson accounted for the final three innings on the mound, giving up only the game-winning run.

In game two, the offense provided an immediate boost, scoring twice in the first and one more in the second. Matt Pollock and Jason Kanzler led off with back-to-back doubles and Jordan Camp scored Pollock on a groundout to shortstop. Murphy hit a single to score Kanzler. In the second inning, Scahill singled and later scored unearned thanks to yet another Hornet error.

Two runs in the bottom of the third brought DSU within one, 3-2. Baldock was hit by pitch and then advanced to third on an error. Michael Burke doubled to right field, to drive in Baldock. Scahill again capitalized on Delaware State's mistakes, scoring later in the inning on a wild pitch. Smietana singled through the left side to drive in Burke from third.

Again Delaware State touched up the Buffalo pitchers though, scoring four runs on starter Cameron Copping him, running him off in favor of Thompson. Copping pitched 3.1 innings and struckout three. Thompson provided a steady hand the team needed, though, shutting down the Hornet's bats for the rest of the game. In his 3.2 innings of relief, he scattered seven hits and walked none while striking out four.

He earned a well-deserved win in the seventh inning as the Bulls offense pushed across one more run, the eventual game winner. Jason Kanzler reached on the third error of the day by DSU, quickly stealing second. Yet another error moved Kanzler in to scoring position and Murphy hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored his teammate for the seventh and deciding run.

After picking up the season's first two wins, Buffalo now sits at 2-5 overall. Next up will be four games against Longwood. The Lancers are 8-5 and recently swept a three-games series with Coppin State. The doubleheader Saturday will begin at 1 pm.