Bulls Sweep Butler in Doubleheader

Win four-game weekend road series with pair of 9-7 victories

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The University at Buffalo baseball team captured its second four-game weekend road series of the season, earning a pair of 9-7 victories in Saturday afternoon’s doubleheader versus Butler at Bulldog Park.

Bobby Pizzuto

After a scoreless first inning, the Bulls exploded in the top of the second for a 6-0 lead in game one of the doubleheader against the Bulldogs. Seniors Jacob Rosenbeck and Adam Skonieczki hit back-to-back doubles to take a 1-0 lead. The Bulls kept the runs coming off three RBI base hits by freshman Alex Baldock and seniors Bobby Pizzuto and Brad Cochrane to extend their lead to 5-0. Cycling through the order, Rosenbeck drilled an RBI double to left center, giving the Bulls a 6-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Butler cut Buffalo’s lead in half, 6-3, off an RBI double and a two-run double.

Alex Baldock

The Bulls answered with three runs of their own in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 9-3. With the bases loaded, Rosenbeck managed to score off a fielder’s choice at third. The final pair of runs came off a two-RBI triple by Baldock, his second triple of the year.

The Bulldogs’ seventh-inning rally came two runs short of a come-from-behind victory. Trailing 9-5 with runners at first and second, Butler’s Corey Moylan cleared the bases with a two-RBI double to left field. With the Bulldogs threatening the Bulls’ lead, closer Kevin Crumb retired the sole Bulldog he faced off a fly ball to center for his second save of the season.

Pierre Miville-Deschenes

In 6.0 innings, starter Pierre Miville-Deschenes (2-2) recorded the victory including three strikeouts.

Baldock, Cochrane and Rosenbeck each recorded a pair of hits in the victory. Baldock batted in a team high three runs with six Bulls driving in a run each.

In a bit of deja vu, the Bulls captured a 9-7 victory over the Bulldogs in the nightcap. Once again, Buffalo jumped out to an early lead with Butler threatening in the later innings only to fall short by a pair of runs.

Brad Cochrane

Holding a 2-0 lead after four innings, the Bulls erupted for five runs in the fifth to extend their lead to 7-0. Four of the Bulls’ five runs came off consecutive at bats. The Bulls’ first run came off an RBI base hit up the middle by Pizzuto. Cochrane followed with an RBI double down the right field line. With runners at second and third, senior Rob Lawler dropped a two-RBI double into center field. Later in the inning, Skonieczki added an RBI single to bring the Bulls’ lead to 7-0.

Trailing 7-1, the Bulldogs’ offense cranked out six runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the contest at 7-7.

Senior Charlie Karstedt broke the 7-7 tie in the top of the eighth with a leadoff home run. Later in the inning, with runners at the corners, Pizzuto hit an RBI single to extend the Bulls’ lead to 9-7.

Kevin Crumb

Allowing only one hit in the final two innings, Crumb sealed the victory for the Bulls. In 2.1 innings of relief work, Crumb (1-0) recorded his first victory of the season, allowing only two hits in the nightcap.

Pizzuto went 3-for-3 with a team high three RBIs. Cochrane, Karstedt, Lawler and junior David Neff each collected a pair of hits with Cochrane and Lawler each driving in a pair of runs.

On Tuesday, March 23, the Bulls (9-8) face Big Four rival Canisius College at the Demske Sports Complex with the opening pitch set for 3:00 pm.