Bulls Drop Weekend Opener to Rutgers

Friday, March 14

2 pm

University at Buffalo

7-4

Rutgers

6-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Rutgers	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	6	6	0
Buffalo	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	0

Bulls Drop Weekend Opener to Rutgers

3/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

RICHMOND, VA - For the second straight game and the third time in the last five, the UB baseball team found themselves in an extra-inning game Friday as it took on Rutgers (6-8) to kick off a weekend tournament hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University. After the two teams each scored three runs after two innings, the game would be dominated by pitching until the tenth inning when the Scarlet Knights would plate three runs for the 6-3 win.

The Bulls (7-4) took advantage of a rocky first inning by the Rutgers starting pitcher, scoring all three of its runs. After a striking out the first batter, he would hit two batters and walk another to load the bases. Mike Burke would single home Matt Pollock with a single back up the middle, and after another out would threaten to squash the big inning, walks issued to Kyle Figgins and Brian Dudek would bring in the next two runs, helping the Bulls take a 3-2 lead after the Knights were able to start strong as well against UB starter Mike McGee.

The junior lefty was his own worst enemy, allowing just two hits over seven innings but walked six and hit two batters. He would allow the tying run in the top of the second, but would settle in for a solid start. For the final five innings of work, he would give up no hits and walked a pair of runners. Buffalo's offense would not find many scoring opportunities in the middle innings and had just one hit from the fourth to the seventh inning, a two-out double from Dudek.

The dry spell appeared to be breaking in the eighth after Tyler Mautner led off the inning with a double to left field. He would be sacrificed over to third, but a strikeout and ground out would strand him. The team got another runner into scoring position in the ninth thanks to a lead off single by Dudek, but he too would be stranded.

Senior Cory Folk would carry the team into extra innings after setting down six straight batters in the eighth and ninth, but Rutgers would find his number with a two-run triple. The Bulls would go down in order in the home half of the tenth.

Next up for the team will be the host Rams Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 5 pm.