UB Comeback Falls Short in Extra Innings

Sunday, March 9

11 am

7-3

North Fla.

6-7

Buffalo

North Florida

UB Comeback Falls Short in Extra Innings

3/9/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

ATHENS, GA - After being no-hit through the first eight innings of its game Sunday morning against North Florida, the UB (7-3) baseball team would rally in the ninth before the game would go into extra innings. The Ospreys (6-7) would finally pull out the 4-3 win with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the 12th to close out the weekend at the Georgia Bulldogs Invitational.

North Florida starter Tyler Moore was on point from the get go, shutting down a UB offense that had scored early and often in the first two games of the weekend. Moore would not allow a single baserunner until a walk was issued to Mike Scarcello with two outs in the sixth. His opponent in the UB dugout would be equally strong, though, as Mike Burke had another solid start for Buffalo.

The senior would allow two unearned runs in the fourth due to a pair of errors in the field, and he would give up just four hits in his seven innings of work. Mike Kaelin would keep the score at 2-0 after a scoreless eighth inning of relief.

Burke would ultimately not factor into the decision, but his performance on the mound would help keep the Bulls in the game long enough to make its rally in the top of the ninth. Scarcello would break up the no hitter right away with a single to chase Moore from the game, and freshman Chris Kwitzer would follow with a single off the UNF bullpen. Nick Sinay turned what would have been a sacrifice attempt into an infield single that would load up the base still with no outs.

Two straight pop ups in the infield would put the Bulls on the brink, but Thomas Richards would come through in the clutch with a two-run single for a 2-2 tie. The rally wouldn't end there, though, as Vinny Mallaro would drive in Sinay from second base.

The Ospreys would lead off the bottom of the ninth with a double and used a pair of fly balls outs to move him around to score the tying run and force extra innings. In the 12th inning, Mallaro would stand on second with just one out, but a pair of strikeouts would snuff the opportunity. North Florida would end it with the first batter in the home half of the inning.

Next up will be the final four games of the main non-conference schedule, as the team takes its Spring break down in Virginia. Buffalo will have three games at Virginia Commonwealth, taking on the Rutgers, the host Rams, and Lafayette. First pitch against the Scarlet Knights will be Friday at 2 pm.