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Season Underway For Bulls in Florida

The Bulls opened their season over the weekend with their spring trip to Florida. In the season-opener at Florida International, the Bulls fell to the 38th-ranked Golden Panthers, 10-6. Saturday and Sunday, the Bulls dropped close decisions to Duquesne (2-1) and Villanova (3-1). The Villanova contest was called after six innings of play due to rain.

In the opener against FIU, after spotting the Golden Panthers a first inning unearned run, the Bulls erupted for five runs in the top of the second. Bryan Sanchez (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) scored the Bulls' first run after doubling to right and scoring from third on Mike Flaherty's (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) single up the middle. Flaherty then scored on a Tim Sova (Rochester, NY/Greece-Athena) double to left. Adrian Daniels (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) then unloaded a three-run shot off FIU starter William Collazo to give the Bulls a 5-1 edge.

FIU (11-5) scored single runs in the third and fifth innings to close the gap to 5-3 before the Bulls put up another run in the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Junior Eric Huber (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park), who missed the 2000 season due to a broken ankle, walked to open the inning. Huber moved to second on Corey Blair's (Oneida, NY/Oneida) sacrifice and to third on Sanchez' fly out. Huber then scored on Tommy Duenas' passed ball to give the Bulls a 6-3 lead.

However in the bottom of the inning, the Golden Panthers put up five runs off losing pitcher John Sullivan (Buffalo, NY/Timon/St. Jude). FIU took the lead for good on Gus Alfonso's two-run double breaking the 6-6 tie. FIU then plated single runs in the seventh and eighth off relievers Mark Esposito (Fairport, NY/Fairport) and Nick Bellacose (Clarence, NY/Clarence).

The Bulls were held to just four hits, all in their five-run second inning. Collazo (5-0) struck out 12 in seven innings as the Bulls fanned 15 times in the contest.

Against Duquesne in Homestead, the Dukes picked up single runs in the first and sixth innings. Both runs were scored by second baseman Jason Startari. Duquesne, a member of the Atlantic-10, entered the game 1-3 after defeating Albany the night before. The Dukes were swept by 2000 College World Series champion LSU to open their season.

The Bulls rallied with a run in the seventh as Huber scored on an RBI groundout by Brandon DiCesare (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit).

UB starter Anthony Puccia (Penfield, NY/Penfield) went 6.2 innings allowing just four hits and one earned run. He also struck out four.

Sunday's contest against Big East member Villanova was shortened to six innings due to heavy rains at FIU's University Park. The Wildcats picked up a run in the first on a Dave Pizzini double, scoring Chris Graziano. Villanova added two more runs in the second off UB starter Tyler Balentine (Mendon, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) to take the early 3-0 lead.

UB, held to just two hits by Villanova starter Dan Farino, closed the gap to 3-1 in the fourth without the benefit of a hit.

Sanchez started the inning with a walk on four straight pitches and moved to second when DiCesare was hit by a pitch. Sanchez then stole third and came home on a Nate Bliss (Fabius, NY/Fabius-Pompey) ground out to shortstop. DiCesare ended the inning stranded on third, one of eight runners left on by the Bulls in the contest.

UB continues its Florida contests with games this week against Holy Cross, Boston College (doubleheader), Mt. St. Mary's, Yale and Sacred Heart. The Bulls open their home season with a March 21 doubleheader at Dunn Tire Park against Niagara.