Bulls Comeback Attempt Falls Short Against Gardner-Webb On Sunday

Sunday, February 15

1 pm

University at Buffalo

0-3

Gardner-Webb

3-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Buffalo	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	8	2
Gardner-Webb	0	0	0	1	0	4	0	1	X	6	8	2

Bulls Comeback Attempt Falls Short Against Gardner-Webb On Sunday

2/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

BOILING SPRINGS, NC - Despite holding the early 3-0 lead on the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon, the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York baseball team (0-3, 0-0 MAC) fell on the road by the score of 6-3.

UB jumped on the Bulldogs in the second inning as transfer Bobby Sheppard started the inning off with a single to right field. Chris Kwitzer then reached on an error by the second baseman and the Bulls were in business with two on and one out. Starting catcher Kyle Brennan came to the plate and knocked in Sheppard from second base on a single to left field and then freshman Mitchell Machi backed that up with a RBI single of his own to left field, earning his first collegiate RBI. After a line out, junior Nick Sinay produced the third run of the inning for UB as he poked a shot into right field, scoring Brennan.

After a pair of 1-2-3 innings to open the game, starting pitcher Brent Cleland gave up an inning starting triple to the Bulldogs. The righty however, responded with back-to-back strikeouts and a ground out to end the threat in the third. In the fourth, Gardner-Webb finally got on the board as Ryan Hodge connected on a solo homerun to right field, making the score 3-1 in favor of the Bulls.

Cleland got back on track in the fifth inning as he struck out two batters and forced a ground ball to enter the sixth. Unfortunetly for the righty, the Bulldogs bats got hot in the sixth and chased him from the game as Anthony Magovney came in relief. Magovney was able to force a quick ground ball out but then gave up a two-run single to Matt Simmons and a two-run homerun to Sam Fulginiti to give the Bulldogs the 5-3 lead.

After Gardner-Webb added an insurance run in the eighth inning off of sophomore Mike Kealin, the Bulls threatened in the top half of the ninth inning in their final at bats. Brian Dudek smacked his first hit of the game, a single, into right field and then speedster Sinay earned a bunt single to second base. A Tanner Robinson fly out meant UB was down to their final out. Mike Abrunzo worked a walk to load the bases for the Bulls with sophomore Vinny Mallaro at the plate. Mallaro took a called strike three on the fifth pitch of the at bat to end the threat and hand UB their third straight defeat.

Cleland finished his afternoon allowing three hits and striking out seven batters in 5.2 innings. At the plate, Sinay stayed hot as he finished 2-for-4 on the afternoon with a RBI and a hit by pitch. Brennan and Machi each collected their first RBI's of the season in the loss.

The Bulls will return to the diamond on Friday, February 20 as they head to VMI for a double header against Maryland-Eastern Shore and the host VMI Keydets.