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Strong Pitching Leads Buffalo to Sweep of Central Michigan

Jeffrey Hains

The Bulls and the Chippewas were locked in a pitcher’s duel is game one as Jeffrey Hains (Mexico, NY/Mexico) and Eric Lawrence each held a shutout through five innings.

Buffalo broke through in the bottom of the sixth when Kevin McCall (Chagrin Falls, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral) led off the inning with his second hit of the day, a single to right center field. McCall then scored when Rob Mancini (Windsor, Ontario/St. Thomas) doubled down the left field line, breaking the scoreless deadlock.

Hains continued to keep the Chippewa batters off balance the rest of the afternoon, going 8.2 innings, scattering five hits and striking out three while not allowing a run.

With two outs and two runners on in the ninth, Steve Geltz (Ransomville, NY/Wilson) came on to pick up the final out and the save, as he got Cody Allen to fly out to Eric Flynn (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) in left to end the game.

Kevin McCall

In game two, Central Michigan struck first with a run in the first inning as Jeff Helps singled to open the game and scored on a single by Tyler Stovall.

Buffalo answered in the third, scoring a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. Rick Oliveri (Tonawanda, NY/Canisius) singled to open the inning, McCall followed with a single to give UB a pair of base runners. Mancini then singled to left, scoring Oliveri and giving the Bulls their first run of the game. Jacob Rosenbeck (Medina, NY/Medina) had the fourth hit of the inning for the Bulls, a single to center field, which scored McCall and gave Buffalo the 2-1 lead.

Central Michigan regained the lead with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth, but Buffalo tied the game with a run in the sixth as Chris Ciesla (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) had a one-out single and would score on a RBI single by Adam Skonieczki (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott).

Game two of the doubleheader would go to extra innings as neither team was able to break the 3-3 deadlock in the next three frames.

In the bottom of the tenth, Nick Walczak (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) hit a two-out double down the left field line and Skonieczki followed with a single up the middle that scored Walczak for the game-winning run.

Zach Anderson

Zach Anderson (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) picked up the win in game two, pitching the final four innings, allowing no runs and just four hits. Mike Stangroom (Fallston, MD/Calvert Hall) started the nightcap for UB and threw six strong innings, allowing just six hits and only one earned run while striking out five.

In the two games combined, the four Buffalo pitchers allowed just one earned run in 19 innings pitched.

McCall was 4-for-7 at the plate in the two games for the Bulls, recording a pair of hits and a run scored in each game.

The Bulls will return to Olean on Wednesday, April 2 when they meet St. Bonaventure in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one between the Bulls and the Bonnies is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.