Courtesy of UBBulls.com
BUFFALO, NY – Despite senior shortstop Bobby Sheppard collecting his second five-hit game of his career and season, the University at Buffalo baseball team fell in 12 innings to the Miami (OH) RedHawks on Sunday afternoon, 7-6. With the win, the RedHawks earned the series sweep of the Bulls as UB dropped to 11-20 overall and 4-8 in MAC play.
With the game still knotted, 6-6, in the top of the 12th inning, the RedHawks finally broke through with the go-ahead run off of UB reliever Brandon Mumaw. After getting a quick out, Chad Sedio singled to center and Tyler Harris reached base on an error by the Bulls. After a fielder’s choice gave Miami two outs in the inning, Hayden Senger popped up a high fly ball on the infield that ended up glancing off of the glove of Sheppard, allowing the go-ahead run to cross the plate for the RedHawks.
In the bottom of the 12th, Mike Abrunzo was able to reach first on a fielding error by the RedHawks third baseman but he wasn’t able to come around and tie the game as the Bulls were swept by Miami.
The Bulls were able to break through in the bottom of the first inning for their first run of the series as Bobby Sheppard led off the game with a single for the third straight game. Ben Haefner and Chris Kwitzer each were hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Bulls. Vinny Mallaro then stepped in and earned a RBI on a ground ball that the Miami shortstop elected to go to second base and didn’t get the out, allowing Sheppard to score from third.
The RedHawks didn’t wait long to tie the game at one as they got the tying run in the top of the second inning. After UB starter Shawn Dubin got the first two outs, Dallas Hall ripped a double to deep center field and Senger backed that up with a double of his own to chase Hall across home plate.
Buffalo was able to retake the lead in the bottom of the second inning as Eddie Edwards III hit a double down the right field line before Sheppard singled to center to allow Edwards III to come around and score.
Dubin was cruising along as he had eight strikeouts through five inning before hitting a rough patch in the sixth inning. After allowing the bases to get loaded, Dubin forced a sacrifice fly to center field and the RedHawks tied the score at two. Mike Kaelin then came in relief of Dubin with a pair of runners on and struck out the first batter and forced a ground out to short to end the threat.
The RedHawks struck for two runs in the top of the seventh inning on five hits and one UB error to take the 4-2 lead.
The Bulls had a great chance to break through for some runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as Kwitzer, Abrunzo and Andrew Taft all earned walks to load the bases with one out. Unfortunately for the Bulls, their next two batters struck out to end the threat and leave the bases loaded.
After a strong eighth inning on the mound from Kaelin, Alex Thrower started the bottom of the inning with a walk and Sheppard followed him with a walk of his own. Haefner then dug in and delivered an RBI single into right field to score Thrower from third base. On an attempted sacrifice bunt, Kwitzer reached bases to reload the bases for UB. Abrunzo and Taft then earned back-to-back walks to force in two runs and give UB the 5-4 lead.
The Bulls entered the ninth inning with the 5-4 lead after a three-run eighth inning got Buffalo back into the game. After Brandon Mumaw was able to get the first two outs with deep fly balls to center field, he allowed a walk and then a 2-run homer that just cleared the left field fence to give Miami the 6-5 lead.
With their backs against the wall in the bottom of the ninth, the Bulls battled back and were able to collect the game-tying run. After the Bulls first two batters got outs, Bobby Sheppard connected on his first triple of the season to deep center field to keep UB alive. Ben Haefner then dug in and crushed a RBI double down the right field line to plate Sheppard and tie the game, 6-6.
Sheppard finished off his great day at the plate going 5-for-5 with three runs scored and a RBI, falling just a home run shy of notching his first career cycle. With his perfect effort at the dish, Sheppard raised his season batting average from .302 before the game to a team-best .331 after the game.
Haefner went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored while Abrunzo finished off his strong game going 1-for-3 with three walks and a RBI. Abrunzo has now collected a team-high 27 walks on the season. Mallaro and Taft each notched a RBI in the loss for UB.
On the mound, Dubin had his fourth straight strong effort in the defeat as he went 5.1 innings while allowing just four hits and two runs while whiffing a career-high eight batters. Kaelin finished off his day going 2.2 innings while allowing five hits and one earned run and Mumaw went 4.0 innings and struck out three while allowing two earned runs in his losing effort.
The Bulls will return to the diamond on Tuesday at 3:00 pm as they return to Amherst Audobon Field to take on the Canisius Golden Griffins.
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