Bulls Drop Pair to Western Michigan

Brian Randazzo has three hits on the day for Buffalo

Mike Stangroom

KALAMAZOO, MI – On a cold, windy Sunday afternoon in Kalamazoo, the University at Buffalo baseball team dropped a pair of tight contests to Western Michigan. The Broncos took game one, 4-0, and game two, 3-0. Buffalo now stands at 8-23 on the season, 2-9 in the Mid-American Conference.

Western Michigan opened the scoring in game one with an unearned run in the first inning as Zach Gentile reached on a throwing error by the Bulls and then scored on a single by Joe Sheets.

The Broncos scored three in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 4-0. Derek Mosher led off with a walk and scored on a soft single over second base by Gentile. Gentile then scored on a double by Sheets. Western Michigan’s third run came when Sheets scored on an error by the Bulls.

Billy Morrison threw a complete game, four-hitter on the mound for Western Michigan. Buffalo’s Mike Stangroom (Fallston, MD/Calvert Hall) also threw a complete game, allowing just two earned runs while striking out five and walking only one batter.

Eric Flynn

In game two, Western Michigan took the lead in the third with a two-out, two run single up the middle by Chris Lewis, scoring Grant Simotes and Zach Gentile.

Buffalo threatened in both the seventh and eighth. Eric Flynn (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls), who made an outstanding catch going up a hill in fair territory in left field earlier in the game, had a two-out single down the left field line in the seventh. Rick Oliveri (Tonawanda, NY/Canisius)followed with a single to right center, but Bronco starting pitcher Brian Stroud induced a pop out to end the inning. Brian Randazzo (St. Charles, MO/St. Charles) singled to open the eighth and Adam Skonieczki (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) followed with a sharply hit single to center field. After Jacob Rosenbeck (Medina, NY/Medina) walked to load the bases, Western Michigan brought in Mosher to pitch and he ended the UB threat with a pop out and a pair of strike outs.

The Broncos added an insurance run in the eighth as Matthew Abro reached base on an error, stole second and was driven in on a single by Mosher.

Jesse Reinstein

Jesse Reinstein (Thornhill, Ontario/Westmount Collegiate) started game two for the Bulls and went six innings, allowing just two runs, while striking out seven and walking just one.

Randazzo had three hits on the day for UB.

Buffalo will return to action next weekend, April 18-20, when they host Miami (Ohio) in a three-game series at Amherst Audubon Field. Game time between the Bulls and the RedHawks is set for 3:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

04/13/2008