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KENT, OH - The University at Buffalo was swept Sunday afternoon by Kent State in a Mid-American Conference baseball doubleheader at Gene Michael Field. UB dropped the opener, 7-5, as its final inning rally fell short. The Bulls then lost game two, 13-2, as the Golden Flashes powered five home runs in the contest. UB is now 7-11 overall and 1-4 in MAC competition while Kent State, who opened its MAC slate with today's doubleheader, is 11-10 overall and 2-0 in league play.

Kent State jumped out to a 6-0 lead before the Bulls scored a lone run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Tim Sova (Rochester, NY/Greece-Athena) broke up Dirk Hayhurst's no-hit bid with an infield single. Sova then moved to third on a double by Eric Huber (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) and scored when Hayhurst uncorked a wild pitch. However, the Bulls could manage only the one run as Hayhurst retired the next two batters.

Corey Blair

With the Golden Flashes leading 7-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Bulls rallied for four runs. Jordan Alcott (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) brought home John Boom (London, Ontario/Catholic Central) with an RBI double off reliever Pat Frank. Sanchez then brought home UB's third run on a wild pitch by Frank. Corey Blair (Oneida, NY/Oneida) closed the gap to 7-5 with his two-run homer, his first of the season, scoring Alcott ahead of him. Kent State again went to the bullpen as Gus Hlebovy relieved Frank. Phil Vanhorne (Scarborough, Ontario/Mother Teresa) coaxed a walk to bring the tying run to the plate with nobody out. Vanhorne was stranded at first as Sova struck out, Huber flied out and pinch hitter Joe Todoro (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) struck out swinging to end the game.

Tyler Balentine (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) suffered his first loss of the season to move his record to 2-1. Balentine, the second-leading pitcher in the MAC, gave up six runs, four earned, while striking out five. Hayhurst (2-2) picked up the win with Hlebovy recording his third save.

UB catcher Brandon DiCesare (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) went 0-for-3 in the opener to snap his consecutive game hit streak at 11.

Kent State opened game two with three runs in the opening inning off UB starter John Sullivan (Buffalo, NY/Timon/St. Jude) (2-2), including a two-run homer by Pat O'Brien and a solo homer by Brady Glass.

The Bulls picked up a run in the bottom of the first as Sova, who had led off with a double, scored on DiCesare's fielder's choice.

Phil Vanhorne

After KSU increased the lead to 6-1 on a second homer by Glass, this time with two aboard, the Bulls pushed across a second run as Vanhorne brought home Joe Mihalics (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) on a single to right field. Vanhorne led the Bulls with two hits in the nightcap

Kent State added five runs in the fourth inning as O'Brien also homered for the second time, and added single runs in the eighth and ninth innings for the 13-2 margin.

Originally scheduled to be played at UB's Amherst Pepsi Center Field, the Bulls were designated the home team after wet conditions forced the series to be moved. UB and Kent State will make up the remaining two games in Buffalo on April 16. The Bulls host Canisius on Tuesday.