Sheppard's Perfect Day At The Plate Leads Baseball To Win Over Northeastern, 6-3

Saturday, March 19

1 pm

University at Buffalo

6-8

Northeastern

8-9

Buffalo

Northeastern

Sheppard's Perfect Day At The Plate Leads Baseball To Win Over Northeastern, 6-3

3/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

BOSTON, MA – Behind senior shortstop Bobby Sheppard's first career five-hit game, the University at Buffalo baseball team defeated the Northeastern Huskies on Saturday afternoon in Boston, 6-3, to even the series at a game apiece. Sheppard finished off his career day going 5-for-5 at the dish with a team-best three-RBI's and a run scored. The Bulls improved to 6-8 overall on the season.

The Bulls jumped out to the quick 1-0 lead in the first inning as Sheppard singled to left field and he moved over to second after Mike Abrunzo reached on an error by the center fielder. After Vinny Mallaro moved Sheppard over to third with a fielder's choice, Chris Kwitzer forced a bad throw and error from the third baseman, scoring Sheppard from third.

The Bulls struck again in the second inning as Sheppard singled down the left field line to score Alex Thrower from second base after he walked and stole second to get into scoring position. The Huskies responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning as Cam Hanley notched a double to score Josh Treff from second, making the score 2-1 in favor of the Bulls.

After a pair of scoreless innings, the Bulls were able to add a pair of runs in the fifth inning thanks to Mallaro. After Ben Haefner reached base on a fielder's choice and Abrunzo singled, Mallaro stepped in and smacked his team-leading sixth double of the season down the left field line to score Haefner and Abrunzo and give UB the 4-1 edge.

The Huskies got right back into the game in the sixth inning as Cam Hanley was able to connect on his second double of the game to score a pair of runs and make the score 4-3 in favor of the Bulls. UB starter Charlie Sobieraski forced a foul out to first base to get out of the inning with the lead, eventually earning the victory.

After a scoreless seventh inning, the Bulls added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth as Ben Vey earned a walk and Thrower singled through the left side of the infield. Sheppard then dug in and delivered his fifth and best hit of the day, driving a double down the right field line to the wall, scoring Vey and Thrower and giving UB the comfortable 6-3 lead.

Ben Hartz then pitched a clean eighth inning to secure the three-run lead before handing the ball over to Brandon Mumaw for the ninth and potentially his first career save. Mumaw was able to get three straight outs in the ninth and earned his first save as a Bull.

Sheppard had his best performance of his career at the dish as he notched four singles and a double while notching a season-high three-RBI's and scoring his seventh run of the season. Mallaro continued to produce for the Bulls as he finished 1-for-4 at the plate with a double and two-RBI's, giving him a team-best 10 RBI's on the year. Thrower finished his game going 1-for-3 at the plate with a team-high two runs scored, giving him seven runs on the year.

Sobieraski finished off his third win of the season going six innings while allowing four hits, three runs and striking out four Huskies. Hartz pitched two scoreless innings in relief while Mumaw closed the door for his first save of the season and the Bulls fourth save overall.

The Bulls and Huskies will meet again tomorrow in the rubber match of a three-game series in Boston. First pitch is slated for 12:00 pm.