UB defeated at home by Miami (OH), 3-0

Courtesy of UBBulls.com

BUFFALO, NY – For the second straight game, the University at Buffalo baseball team was shutout by the visiting Miami (OH) RedHawks at Amherst Audobon Field, 3-0. With the loss, the Bulls drop to 11-19 overall and 4-7 in MAC play while going scoreless in their last 21 innings of play.

The game started out as a pitching duel as both starters, Charlie Sobieraski from UB and Cole Gnetz from Miami, cruised through the first four innings. Sobieraski allowed just three hits through five scoreless innings while Gnetz allowed three hits through four innings of work. In the fifth, the Bulls had their best chance to score as Bobby Sheppard reached first base on an error by the RedHawks shortstop and he moved over to second on a wild pitch. Mike Abrunzo then earned his 24^th walk of the season and Vinny Mallaro was hit by a pitch to load the bases for UB. Chris Kwitzer then dug in and hit a deep fly out to right field to end the threat.

After forcing a double play to get out of the sixth inning, Sobieraski found himself in some trouble in the seventh. The RedHawks started a two out rally with a triple to deep right center field and Tyler Harris was able to single through the left side to score Chand Sedio from third. After a deep double to left center gave Miami runners on second and third, Sobieraski was replaced by Logan Harasta on the mound. Harasta threw a wild pitch to walk Hayden Senger and after an errant throw from catcher Kyle Brennan missed the UB pitcher covering home plate, the RedHawks scored a pair of runs to take the 3-0 lead.

The Bulls were able to get one runner on in each of the final three innings but they were not able to cross home plate as they were shutout for the second straight game. Miami starter Gnetz went 5.2 innings of three hit ball and didn’t allow a run while Nick Ernst pitched 2.1 innings and earned the win as he struck out six UB batters.

Sheppard led the Bulls at the plate once again as he collected his ninth multi-hit game of the season, finishing 2-for-5 on the day. Ben Haefner finished with a double and a walk while Chris Kwitzer and Brennan each notched singles in the loss.

Sobieraski finished off another strong outing for the Bulls going 6.2 innings while allowing six hits, one earned run and striking out four Miami batters. Harasta finished his game going 2.1 innings of one-hit ball as he lowered his team-best ERA to 2.00 on the year.

The two teams will wrap up the three-game series on Sunday at 1:00 pm at Amherst Audobon Field. Shawn Dubin (0-3, 4.02 ERA) will make the start for the Bulls while Zach Spears (1-4, 6.55 ERA) will toe the rubber for the RedHawks.