University at Buffalo
17-33
Bowling Green
19-32
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Buffalo | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 14 | 16 | 0 |
Copping's Career Day Helps Boost Playoff Hopes
5/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BUFFALO, NY - In his last regular season start as a UB Bull, Cameron Copping made sure it would be memorable. The senior threw a complete game seven-hitter and was buoyed by 14 runs by the offense as Buffalo (17-33, 9-15 MAC) thrashed Bowling Green (19-32, 8-17 MAC) Thursday afternoon, 14-0. The win eliminated the Falcons from postseason contention and kept Buffalo's slim hopes very much alive.
The Temple City, CA native's 13th start was a lucky one for Buffalo, and with that start he moved into a tie with six other former UB pitchers for the most starts in a single season in team history. Copping also struck out four batters to move into third place on the season record list with 75 this season, and his team-high 90.2 total innings are now the second most for a single season in program history.
Helping him along to such a momentous day was three double plays turned by the Bulls, coming in the first, second, and eighth innings. To cap it all off, Copping did not allow a single walk, a welcome relief to the team after it had allowed 10 to St. Bonaventure in a loss on Tuesday.
The offense was more than ready to support its senior as well, with five different players recording two or more hits and five driving in multiple RBI. Dan Scahill was the highlight among many on Thursday, driving in four runs on two doubles. In the second inning, the senior right fielder brought home Jason Kanzler and Jon Mestas. In the very next inning, he plated Kanzler and Matt Pollock to cap an inning where the team pushed across five runs and led 9-0. Now with 19 doubles this season, Scahill ranks third on the program's single season list.
In the fifth inning, the Bulls loaded up the bases with no outs, and Thomas Richards kicked off the scoring again with a five-pitch walk that scored Kanzler. Alex Baldock then doubled down the left field line to bring in two more UB baserunners, and Mike Burke capped the scoring with a two-run single that brought in Richards and Baldock.
Baldock went 2-3 with a pair of walks, while Burke had a team-high four hits. Reigning MAC East player of the week Kanzler added three more hits and had four runs scored. Tom Murphy had two doubles, two RBI and a walk.
The team will now sit back and root for a pair of teams it would normally call its rival. Akron and Miami are currently playing on the road at Kent State and Ohio, respectively. Losses by the Zips and Redhawks today will get UB just one step closer to its first ever appearance in the Mid-American Conference tournament.
Buffalo will lean on another senior tomorrow, with Jeff Thompson getting the ball in another must-win situation. Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.
Team Stats
Batting:
2B: Scahill, Dan 2 ; Murphy, Tom 2 ; Baldock, Alex 1
RBI: Pollock, Matt 1 ; Scahill, Dan 4 ; Murphy, Tom 2 ; Richards, Thomas 2 ; Baldock, Alex 2 ; Burke, Mike 2 ; Mestas, Jon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pollock, Matt 1 ; Kanzler, Jason 4 ; Scahill, Dan 2 ; Murphy, Tom 1 ; Richards, Thomas 1 ; Baldock, Alex 2 ; Burke, Mike 1 ; McWilliams, River 1 ; Mestas, Jon 1
CS: Murphy, Tom 1
HBP: Kanzler, Jason 2 ; Murphy, Tom 1 ; McWilliams, River 1
