Courtesy of UBBulls.com
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo baseball team was shutout for just the fourth time this season on Friday afternoon in their home opener at Amherst Audobon Field against Miami (OH), 6-0. With the loss, the Bulls fall to 11-18 overall and 4-6 in MAC play while the RedHawks improve to 17-16 overall and 7-3 in MAC play.
The Bulls has the first chance to put a run on the board in the second inning after Alec Tuohy made quick work of the RedHawks in their first two at bats. Vinny Mallaro opened the bottom of the second with a rocket single to center field and Ben Vey earned a walk to give the Bulls two on with no outs. The Bulls then struck out twice and Ben Haefner flied out to center field to end the threat in the second.
The RedHawks created a run in the top of the third without even recording a hit. Hayden Senger started the inning with a hit by pitch and Jake Romano earned a walk before Steve Sada dropped down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third. Adam Yacek then stepped in and hit a deep sacrifice fly to center field to score Senger from third and give the RedHawks the 1-0 edge through three innings.
After another quick inning in the fourth, the RedHawks extended their lead to 2-0 in the fifth as Senger opened the inning with a walk and Romano backed that up with a double to right center field to give Miami runners on second and third with no outs. After Tuohy struck out Sada, Yacek earned his second sacrifice fly of the game to center to score Senger from third.
UB had their best chance to score in the bottom of the sixth inning as Bobby Sheppard singled to shortstop and was replaced on first base by Chris Kwitzer on a fielder’s choice. Mallaro then walked and Vey earned another walk to load the bases with two outs. Andrew Taft stepped in with a chance to cut into the RedHawks lead but he struck out swinging to end the threat.
The RedHawks were able to chase Tuohy from the game in the seventh as they added a run in the sixth and seventh to make the score 4-0 in favor of the visitors. Ben Hartz replaced Tuohy in the seventh and earned a strikeout and fly out to end the threat.
The RedHawks scored two more runs in the eighth inning to put the game away as the Bulls offense couldn’t mount the comeback, falling 6-0 in the series opening game.
Sheppard finished off his game going 2-for-4 at the plate while Mallaro, Vey and Brennan each notched one hit in the loss. On the mound, Tuohy went 6.1 innings while allowing six hits, four runs and struck out five batters while Vey came in and pitched the final two innings allowing just one hit.
The Bulls and RedHawks return to Amherst Audobon Field on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm in the middle game of a three-game set. Charlie Sobieraski (4-2, 5.21 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Bulls while Miami will send Cole Gnetz (2-2, 4.96) to the hump.
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