Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Eastern Michigan

Friday, April 1

12 pm

University at Buffalo

9-14, 3-2

Eastern Michigan

10-15, 4-1

Eastern Michigan

Buffalo

Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Eastern Michigan

4/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

OLEAN, NY – The University at Buffalo baseball team almost collected a doubleheader sweep of the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Friday afternoon but the Bulls couldn't hold onto the 3-2 lead heading into the eighth inning in game two and fell 4-3. The Bulls offense cruised in game one as they collected 16 hits and 12 runs en route to a 12-4 victory over the Eagles. With the split, the Bulls are 9-14 overall and 3-2 in MAC play on the year.

GAME 1 – BUFFALO 12, Eastern Michigan 4

The Buffalo offense exploded in the first game for a season-high 16 hits as Bobby Sheppard led the way going 4-for-5 while Vinny Mallaro and Chris Kwitzer each notched three hits in the 12-4 win.

The Bulls offense started quick as they scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. After Sheppard and Mike Abrunzo hit back-to-back singles, Mallaro doubled to deep left center to score Sheppard and move Abrunzo to third. After a Kwitzer walk, Andrew Taft singled to center to plate Abrunzo before a throwing error by the Eastern Michigan first baseman on a Ben Haefner grounder allowed Kwitzer and Mallaro to score.

After a scoreless second, the Eagles got on the board in the third inning as Austin Wilson singled then advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third base. Jeremy Stidham then hit a deep fly ball to right to score the runner from third.

UB responded quickly in the third with a run of their own making it 5-1 as Mallaro was hit by a pitch before Kwitzer tripled to center to score Mallaro from first.

The Eagles added a solo homer in the sixth to make it 5-2 but UB responded again with two runs as Sheppard doubled to left field to score Kyle Brennan from third and move Brian Dudek to third base. Dudek then came around to score on a passed ball on the very next pitch.

UB put the game out of reach in the seventh inning as they were able to score three runs to make it, 10-2. After Mallaro singled and Kwitzer doubled to open the inning, Taft connected on his first career triple to score the pair. Brennan then grounded into a double play to score Taft from third.

After another EMU homer made the score 10-4, Abrunzo and Taft each earned RBI's in the eighth inning to make the score 12-4. Logan Harasta finished off the game with three straight outs in the ninth to give UB the win.

Alec Tuohy pitched great for the Bulls as he earned his fourth win of the season, going 7.2 innings and allowing six hits, four runs while striking out eight batters. Harasta went 1.1 innings of hitless ball in relief.

Sheppard led the way going 4-for-5 with two runs and a RBI while Mallaro went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a RBI. Taft went 2-for-4 at the dish with a team-high three RBI's while Abrunzo went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a RBI.

GAME 2 – BUFFALO 3, Eastern Michigan 4

The Bulls trailed for the first five innings of game two as the Eagles were able to get on the board in the second inning after a Buffalo error. Michael Mioduszewski reached second base after a dropped pop up to shallow left field and he came around to score the unearned run on a wild pitch.

The Eagles then added to their 1-0 lead in the fourth inning as Mitchell McGeein connected on a solo homer off UB starter Charlie Sobieraski. After the Eagles were able to gain the 2-0 lead, Sobieraski got into a groove and held the potent offense down, striking out seven batters in the game.

The Bulls took over the lead in the sixth inning as they were able to scratch across three runs. Sheppard singled up the middle and came around to score immediately as Abrunzo shot a deep double to left center field. Mallaro then singled to move Abrunzo to third before Kwitzer singled to score him. Mallaro then came around to score after a wild pitch and error on the throw by the catcher help him touch home.

With the 3-2 lead, Sobieraski mowed the EMU Eagles down in order in the seventh inning before being replaced in the eighth by closer Mike Kaelin. The Eagles were able to tie the game up in the eighth as a walk and a single doomed the Bulls, allowing a run to score on a ground out to second, tying the game 3-3.

After getting two quick outs in the top of the ninth, Kaelin made a mistake and left a breaking ball over the plate where Jeremy Stidman took it for a ride over the left center field fence for the eventual game-winning run.

Mallaro and Kwitzer each finished with two hits while Abrunzo went 1-for-4 with a RBI and a run in the loss. Sobieraski went 7.0 innings and allowed just three hits and one earned run while whiffing seven batters. Kaelin took the loss as he allowed two runs in two innings.

The Bulls and Eagles will meet again on Saturday at 3:00 pm in the rubbermatch at Fred Handler Park. Shawn Dubin (0-2, 4.12 ERA) will take the mound for the Bulls.