Control Woes Doom Bulls in Loss to Canisius

Wednesday, April 18

3 pm

University at Buffalo

10-23

Canisius

20-19

Canisius

Buffalo

Control Woes Doom Bulls in Loss to Canisius

4/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

BUFFALO, NY - The Buffalo baseball team capped its seven-game home stand Wednesday afternoon, losing to rival Canisius (20-19) 14-4. For just the second time all season, the Bulls were unable to draw a single walk on offensive, while its pitching staff walked seven and allowed 16 hits. Four Buffalo batters recorded two hits, but the five through nine hitters in the order went a combined 2-19 on the day.

The Bulls (10-23) struck first in the bottom of the opening inning, when Jason Kanzler started things off by getting plunked before stealing second. A single by Thomas Richards moved runners to the corners, and Tom Murphy converted with a double off the wall in left field that brough in Kanzler and put runners on second and third with just one out. Ryan Tulloch hit a grounder to second base to bring in Richards, but that would be it in the first inning.

Canisius tagged on a pair of runs in the second and third off UB starter Dan Ginader to tie the game, but the Bulls retook the lead in the bottom of the third, albeit in frustrating fashion.

Back-to-back singles from Matt Pollock and Kanzler, and another hit by pitch drawn by Richards, would load the bases with no outs for Murphy. The junior catcher was called out on strikes on a controversial call for the first out of the inning. Murphy was hit on the back of the arm with a 1-2 pitch, but the umpire ruled that he had swung and called him out on strikes. After a lengthy protest by Murphy and head coach Ron Torgalski, the ruling stood. Tulloch would pick up Pollock on a groundout, and Kanzler would come in on a wild pitch, but the potential big inning would be squandered.

The Griffs would score three runs in the fourth and batted around to score seven more runs in the fifth to effectively put the game out of reach.

The game would feature 12 different pitchers between the two teams and 25 total hits. Kanzler, Richards, Murphy, and designated hitter Jordan Camp had two hits each.

Next up for the team will be a weekend road series at Ohio. The Bobcats are currently 8-4 in the Mid-American Conference and are vying for the East division lead. First pitch in Athens will be at 3 pm Friday.