Crucial Weekend in Store for the Bulls

Friday, April 13

2 pm

University at Buffalo

9-19, 2-7

Akron

13-20, 6-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Akron	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	6	3
Buffalo	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	X	3	5	3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Akron	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	12	2
Buffalo	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	12	1

Crucial Weekend in Store for the Bulls

4/13/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BUFFALO, NY - Coming off one of its most complete games of the season, the Buffalo baseball team rides into the weekend with a must-win series on tap against Mid-American Conference East rival Akron. The Bulls recently snapped a losing streak in a Tuesday win over Canisius for its first home win of the year. Due to poor weather in the forecast, the series will start with two games on Friday starting at 2 pm, with a single game to follow on Saturday at 1 pm.

Combining a solid start from starting pitcher Mike Burke and a return to form from the offense, the Bulls cruised to a 13-4 win over the Griffs that snapped its nine-game losing streak. The run total was the most scored by the team since Mar. 25 against Central Michigan. The Bulls welcomed back junior first baseman Alex Baldock, who had missed the previous 21 games due to a wrist injury. Alex returned with a vengeance, driving in three runs on two hits.

Senior pitcher Cameron Copping will get the ball on Friday and hopes to continue his hot streak on the mound in conference play. Copping hurled his second straight quality start last Friday against Kent State. The senior righthander threw seven innings, allowing two runs while striking out five.

In its pair of mid-week games, the Zips lost 9-5 to Pittsburgh at home and 7-2 to Ohio State on the road. In its most recent conference series, the team swept Bowling Green at home. Akron has enjoyed an easy opening conference schedule, with its first three weekend series coming against MAC teams with a combined record of 27-67.

Infielder Tyler Begun has been the team's leading force on offense, accounting for almost half of the team's total home runs and triples and also leads the offense in doubles (11), RBI (19) and batting average (.364). Senior RHP Andrew Brown is the reigning MAC East pitcher of the week after throwing a complete-game shutout against Bowling Green. Brown has a team-high four wins and 35 strikeouts and will square off against Copping on Friday.

This will be the 36th meeting between the two teams. In the all-time series, Akron leads 21-14. Last season, the Zips won two of three games against UB.