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James Kingsley

BUFFALO, NY - Junior first baseman James Kingsley (Medina, NY/Medina) proved a one-man wrecking crew in the first game of the University at Buffalo baseball team's Big 4-opening doubleheader at Canisius, as he hit two home runs to lift Buffalo to a 16-0 win. In game two, Canisius launched two third-inning homers to beat Buffalo, 8-4, on a sunny, warm Wednesday at the Demske Sports Complex.

It was Canisius' (3-15 overall) first win in seven meetings with Buffalo (10-12 overall), having lost five games in 2004. The Golden Griffins beat the Bulls last on April 9, 2003, winning 3-2.

Kingsley started the damage in the first inning when he launched a one-out, two-run screamer over the right field fence. From there, the Bulls started to punch away at the scoreboard, scoring one in the second. They added two in the third when senior left fielder John Boom (London, Ontario/Catholic Central) hit a two-out double to right center that scored two runs.

Buffalo exploded for five runs in the fourth to take a 10-0 lead, as Kingsley bashed a solo homer, the 13th of his career to put him in a tie for fourth in UB history, that landed in the net above the left center field wall. Sophomore Al Barbato (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) added a two-run single with two outs and the bases loaded and Boom followed with a line drive down the line that scored two more runs.

The Bulls' stampede wasn't done, though, as they also scored six in the sixth inning, taking advantage of two walks and five hits. Senior center fielder Phil Vanhorne (Scarborough, Ontario/Mother Teresa) hit a two-run ground-rule double over the right-center field fence with one out and Kingsley followed with a two-run single in the inning.

John Boom

Kingsley paced Buffalo, as he went 4-for-5 with a double, two home runs, three runs and five RBIs. Every Bull in the starting lineup added a hit as they pounded 18 in the game, with sophomore Dan Quinn (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) posting a 3-for-5 game and Boom going 3-for-3 with a run, two doubles and five RBIs.

While the Buffalo hitters charged away, Canisius was held to one-hit a first inning single from Eric Schefski. After that sophomore starter Adam Ruszkowski (Utica, NY/Proctor) was in control, tossing three innings and striking out two before giving way to freshman Tony Kurtz (Newfane, NY/Newfane) (3-0), who earned the win by tossing three hitless frames, striking out two and walking three. Junior Sean McWilliams (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) pitched the seventh, hitting a batter, but allowing no other damage.

Jordan Neufeld (0-4) took the loss for the Golden Griffins, giving up seven hits and four earned runs in 2 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two before the Griffin bullpen allowed 11 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.

In the second game, a three-run home run from Matt Mazurek down the right field line and a two-run blast from Gabe Baida in a six-run Griffin third inning lifted the Griffs to an 8-4 win.

Buffalo scored a single tally in the top of the second inning, as freshman third baseman Mike Folli (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) tripled with one out and scored on a grounder. The lead evaporated, however, as Canisius sent 10 batters up in the third inning, capitalizing on two walks and five hits to take a 6-1 lead.

Canisius added another run in the fourth before Buffalo came alive for three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Folli led off with a single and senior right fielder Andrew Wengert (Utica, NY/Proctor) followed with a double. Barbato singled Folli home and moved Wengert to third. After a fielder's choice that kept Wengert at third, senior shortstop Joe Mihalics (Tonawanda, NY/Timon-St. Jude) singled to right to score Wengert. Vanhorne followed by reaching on a throwing error by the third baseman that allowed Boom to score.

Canisius added another run in the bottom of the fifth to round out the scoring, as Alex Winiewicz pitched three innings to pick up his first save, allowing one hit and striking out two. Adam Garrett (1-1) earned the win, going four frames, allowing four hits and three runs, as he struck out three.

Junior Matt Johnson (Montague, MI/Montague/Grand Rapids CC) (2-2) took the loss for the Bulls, allowing four hits, one walk and four runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Baida led the Griffins, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs in the game while Folli went 2-for-3 with two runs to lead the Bulls.

Buffalo returns to Mid-American Conference play as it travels to MAC West Division power Bowling Green for a weekend series. The first game is Friday at 3:00 pm.