Bulls Lose Wild Extra-Inning Affair

Friday, May 6

3 pm

University at Buffalo

10-31, 1-17

Ohio

21-24, 6-13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Ohio	2	0	1	0	1	2	0	0	1	2	0	5	14	19	2
Buffalo	0	0	4	0	0	0	1	1	1	2	0	3	12	19	1

5/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

BUFFALO, NY - Despite coming back to tie the game on three different occasions late in the game, the Buffalo baseball team lost game one of its weekend series against Ohio Friday afternoon, 14-12 in 12 innings.

After eight innings, the game was all squared at 6-6 after the Bulls chipped away at Ohio's lead with a run in the seventh and eighth that erased Ohio's 6-4 lead. The Bobcats used a leadoff hit in the ninth to manufacture a run and a 7-6 lead, but the Bulls came back strong in the home half, loading the bases with no out, but only a single run would score.

In what became just the third extra-inning game of the season for UB, the Bulls gave up two more runs in the tenth inning but again got up off the mat to respond in the bottom of the inning. A single by Andrew Smietana and a walk from Matt Pollock set up the inning, and after the second out was recorded, Tom Murphy hit a single to center field. Smietana scored easily and Pollock attempted to go from first to third on the shallow hit. The throw to third from center field was misplayed and rolled into the Buffalo dugout, scoring Pollock and giving Murphy third base, tying the score at 9-9 with just one more hit needed for the win. Alex Baldock hit a ground ball deep to the left side of the infield but could not beat the throw, ending the team's chances in the tenth.

After a scoreless eleventh inning, the Bobcats jumped on a taxed Buffalo bullpen and scored five runs on two hits, putting all the pressure on the UB offense to respond. Smietana was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the twelfth, then moved to second on a wild pitch. Pollock stepped up and recorded his fifth hit of the day. Jason Kanzler then loaded the bases after drawing the walk and Murphy again struck hard, hitting a single through the right side that scored two runs. A Baldock single the scored Kanzler and moved Murphy to third with only one out. Ohio quickly stopped the bleeding, though, striking out the next two batters to ice the win.

The three hour, 40 minute game was the longest of the season for the Bulls, and the 12 runs scored were the most by UB since Feb. 18 against NC Central. The team also hit a season-high six doubles among the 19 total hits. Pollock finished 5-6 with four runs scored and a walk, while Murphy had four RBI and four hits, including his ninth home run of the season.

The Bulls fall to 10-31 (1-17 MAC) while Ohio improves to 21-24 (6-13 MAC). Game two of the weekend series will begin tomorrow at 1 pm.