BASEBALL

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

Nick Bellacose

AKRON, OH ­ Buffalo (4-14, 1-4) split a doubleheader with Akron (7-11, 2-1) on Saturday afternoon at Lee Jackson Field. Akron won the first game, 4-1, and the Bulls came back to take the nightcap, 4-1.

Game one was a classic pitcher's duel as both starters tossed gems. Akron starter Pat Watt allowed one run on only one hit and struck out seven to pick up his first win of the season. Watt had a no-hitter spoiled by a single off the bat of Phil Vanhorne (Scarborough, Ontario/Mother Teresa) in the sixth inning. UB starter Tyler Balentine (Mendon, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) also pitched well as he yielded only four hits and allowed three earned runs. Both pitchers went the distance.

The Zips scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Bulls tied the contest in the top of the third when David Amaro (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) scored on a wild pitch. An RBI single by Doug Kruthaupt, in the fourth inning, gave the Zips a 2-1 advantage. In the sixth inning, Kruthaupt lined a double that scored Akron's final two runs.

In game two, it was Nick Bellacose's (Clarence, NY/Clarence) turn to shine. The junior righty didn't allow an earned run and scattered four hits over eight innings to earn his first win of the year.

The Bulls struck first by scoring twice in the fifth inning. Jordan Alcott (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) scored on a sacrifice fly by Joe Mihalics (Tonawanda, NY/Timon/St. Jude) and Brandon DiCesare (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit), who was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game, crossed the plate following a passed ball.

UB scored twice more in the top of the eighth to take a 4-0 lead. A single by Andrew Wengert (Utica, NY/Proctor) plated Mihalics and a single by James Kingsley (Medina, NY/Medina) scored Wengert.

The Zips scored an unearned run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to cut the lead to 4-1, but would get no closer as James Mantzanis (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) slammed the door on an Akron comeback by picking up his first career save.

The Bulls will close out the series with the Zips on Sunday afternoon at 1 pm.