UB Baseball Drops Season Opener To James Madison, 5-4

Friday, February 13

12 pm

University at Buffalo

0-1

James Madison

1-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Buffalo	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	8	0
James Madison	0	1	0	0	4	0	0	0	X	5	6	1

UB Baseball Drops Season Opener To James Madison, 5-4

2/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

BOILING SPRINGS, NC - The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York baseball team (0-1) opened the 2015 season on Friday with a 5-4 loss to James Madison. Junior Nick Sinay collected two hits, three stolen bases and a run in the losing effort for the Bulls, who held the 4-1 lead after four innings but could not hold on.

The Bulls started the season quick as Sinay and Ben Haefner recorded back-to-back singles into centerfield to start off the game. The pair then executed a double steal to give UB two runners in scoring position with no outs. Unfortunetly for the Bulls, a pair of strikeouts and a ground ball to second base ended the threat in the first inning.

James Madison got on the board first in the second inning as Kyle Weston crossed the plate on a ground out to shortstop by Brett Johnson. UB starting pitcher Mike McGee was able to strand two runners on base in the second as he forced a ground out to short to end the threat.

The Bulls responded quickly in the third as they were able to break through with their first runs of the season, scoring four runs in the inning. Sinay started things off for the Bulls once again, earning a bunt single and then stealing second base, giving Haefner an at bat with a runner in scoring. Haefner came through for UB with a double into the right field corner, scoring Sinay. Vinny Mallaro then came to the plate and gave the Bulls the 2-1 lead as he recorded a single into center that scored Haefner from second. After a pop out to shortstop, junior college transfer Mike Abrunzo stepped up to the plate and deposited an Aaron Hoover pitch over the left-center field wall for his first career home run, a two-run shot that extended the Bulls lead to 4-1.

After a scoreless fourth, James Madison chased McGee in the fifth after he walked the bases loaded. Anthony Magovney entered for the Bulls from the bullpen and allowed a bases clearing triple to Michael Sciorra, which tied the game at four. The next batter was able to knock Sciorra in on a single before Magovney got out of the fifth with a strikeout and caught stealing.

Sinay finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of hit by pitches and also matched a career-high with three stolen bases. Heafner finished with a pair of hits while Brian Dudek had a single and Brent Cleland recorded a double in the losing effort. For the game, the Bulls struck out 11 times and left 13 runners on base.

Magovney pitched well in relief of McGee for the Bulls as he scattered four hits over 3.2 innings of action while striking out two Dukes.

UB returns to the diamond on Saturday afternoon as they will take on Gardner-Webb at 12:00 pm.