Baseball Splits Marathon Doubleheader
5/11/2013 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
OXFORD, OH - In a series opening doubleheader that carried well on into the night, the Buffalo baseball team split its two games against Miami (OH) (23-26, 12-11 MAC), winning the first 7-3, and losing the second 13-5. The Bulls (28-20, 16-6 MAC) broke out the bats for a season-high 19 hits in game one, with all nine position players recording at least one hit.
Game one was a back-and-forth contest early, with the Bulls recording at least one hit in every single inning, but also finding themselves unable to create the big inning. In the first, Jason Kanzler manufactured his own run, getting an infield single before stealing second and third base to create an easy RBI opportunity for Kyle Figgins, who drove him in on a two-out single. Kanzler was on base again in the third inning, and came home on a home run to left center from classmate Alex Baldock, making it a 3-1 game.
Miami would tie the game back up after single runs in the third and sixth innings. In those three innings alone, Buffalo had five hits but could not find another run. After a solo home run from Miami to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth, Jon Mestas answered in the top of the seventh with a solo home run that would stand up as the game-winner.
Thanks to some clutch hitting, UB was able to put the game away in the late innings, starting with a two-run eighth inning. Kanzler and Baldock led off with singles, and a two-out walk drawn by Mestas would load up the bases. Thomas Richards and Mike Burke hit back-to-back RBI singles that made it 6-3. The team's final run would come in the top of the ninth, when Baldock drove in Mike Scarcello with a single.
Mike McGee earned his fifth win of the season with 6.2 innings of work. He allowed two earned runs, and struck out a pair as well. Ben Hartz picked up his first collegiate save, closing out the last 2.1 innings with one hit allowed and two strikeouts with no walks.
In game two, Buffalo battled bad weather and inconsistent defense, allowing Miami to score six unearned runs and a pair of big innings that put the game out of reach. Kanzler remained hot with a solo home run in the first inning, but Miami would score five runs in the third inning and lead from then on.
The team mounted a comeback attempt in the fourth inning, using three runs to make it a 5-4 game. Richards hit a one out single and Burke followed with a double to put them both in scoring position. Scarcello would bring them both in with a single, and he would later score on a sacrifice fly by Baldock.
Miami would snuff out the comeback quickly in the fourth, scoring three quick runs before a 58 minute rain delay extended the inning even more. When play resumed, the Redhawks scored three more runs in the fourth to break it open to an 11-4 game. It was an important mark, as it was the first time all season that the UB pitching staff allowed double digit runs in a single game (though only seven were earned).
Anthony Magovney took the loss, but the UB bullpen had a solid day of relief. Cory Folk threw 1.1 innings, and Zach Stephens (2.1 IP) and Dan Ginader (1.0 IP) each had shutout appearances.
The deciding game of the series will be tomorrow, with a 1 pm start time. Mike Burke will toe the rubber, trying to help the team maintain its overall lead in the Mid-American Conference.
