Bulls Slug Their Way To 18-3 Victory
5/11/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BUFFALO, NY - Led by a school-record 6-for-6 performance from junior Jason Kanzler, the University at Buffalo baseball team (15-30, 8-13 MAC) pounded out a season-high 28 hits en route to an 18-3 victory over Eastern Michigan (22-25, 12-10 MAC) on Friday afternoon at Amherst Audubon Field. Kanzler also tied a modern day program record with three stolen bases in the game.
With the win, UB earned its first victory against the Eagles since 2007.
The total offensive output was the most the team has scored in a Mid-American Conference game since 2002. With three home runs hit in the game, the Bulls also set a program season record with 47 home runs as a team this season, surpassing 2010's total in seven fewer games.
The Bulls scored runs in six of their eight innings on offense including batting around the order in both the third and fifth innings. Both Matt Pollock and Tom Murphy finished with three-hit games, each finishing just one hit away from the cycle along with Kanzler. For Murphy, he crushed both a triple and home run in the game and came just a double shy, while Pollock and Kanzler needed a triple that eluded them both. Dan Scahill and River McWilliams also finished with three-hit games as every UB starter had at least one hit in the game.
Even when the Bulls went to its bench, the offense never waivered. Russ Carone had an RBI double, and Andy Smietana and Ryan Tulloch recorded a hit as well coming off the bench for UB.
Murphy and McWilliams led the team with three runs batted in, and Thomas Richards, Alex Baldock and Kanzler plated a pair apiece.
With run support to spare, Cameron Copping picked up the victory as he struck out six batters in 7.0 innings of work. He allowed five hit and three runs. Dan Ginader pitched two scoreless innings to conclude the game, adding to a recent hot stretch for the sophomore.
The win moves the Bulls into ninth place in the MAC, with only the top eight teams making the tournament. Akron and Miami (OH) currently sit at 10-12 in the conference, but UB won its series against both squads earlier in the season. The Zips are facing Ohis this weekend, while the Redhawks are facing Kent State.
Still very much in the hunt for a berth in the upcoming conference tournament, Buffalo will be right back at it tomorrow afternoon at Amherst Audubon Field. First pitch in the middle game of the weekend series is scheduled for 1 pm.
