Bulls Fall to Broncos in Close High-Scoring Affair

Ciesla and Skonieczki each record team-high three RBIs

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo baseball team fell to Western Michigan in the final game of a weekend conference series, 14-13. The Bulls defeated the Broncos in the previous two contests of the three-game set before falling in the high scoring affair on Sunday afternoon.

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning, the Bulls tied the Broncos to pull even.

Adam Skonieczki

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the second, the Bulls erupted for seven runs to take a 9-3 lead. The Bulls’ second inning effort was Adam Skonieczki with a three-RBI triple to deep right-center to put the Bulls in the lead 5-3. Later in the inning, Rob Lawler drilled a two-RBI triple to right-center to give the Bulls an 8-3 lead. With Lawler at third, Jacob Rosenbeck sent an RBI double down the left field line to drive in Lawler for a 9-3 lead.

Following scoreless innings in the third and fourth for both squads, the Broncos tied the game at 9-9 in the top of the fifth with a six-run inning.

Jacob Rosenbeck

In the top of the seventh the Broncos took a 13-9 lead, however, the Bulls pulled within two in the bottom of the seventh off RBI singles by Chris Ciesla and Rosenbeck.

In the eighth, the Broncos added a run to keep their lead at three but the Bulls answered back in the bottom of the inning to pull within one, 14-13, on RBI singles by Ciesla and Charlie Karstedt.

Skonieczki and Karestedt each went 3-for-5. Skonieczki and Ciesla each recorded a team-high of three RBIs. Rosenbeck went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored.

Starter Jeffrey Hains left the game with a 9-3 lead in 4.1 innings of work. Reliever River McWilliams (2-2) recorded his second loss of the season.

The Bulls (14-18, 3-8 MAC) will remain at home on Tuesday, April 14 as they take on Big Four rival Canisius with the first pitch set for 3:00 pm.