Broncos Hold Down Bulls in Series Opener, 5-0

Piazza wraps two hits for the Bulls

James Piazza

KALAMAZOO , MI – Three third-inning runs capped off by a two-run triple by Nathan Marquedt led Western Michigan University past the University at Buffalo baseball team, 5-0, on a rain-soaked Hyames Field in Mid-American Conference play Friday afternoon.

Freshman James Piazza (Amherst, NY/Williamsville North) went 2-for-3 with a walk to lead the Bulls (7-22 overall, 2-8 MAC), who managed to put two runners on in three innings, but couldn't dent the scoreboard.

Western Michigan 's Dan O'Brien (4-2) pitched eight innings, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out nine. He also induced two groundball double plays in the game.

The Broncos (17-13 overall, 5-5 MAC) scored first in the third, when R.C. Dickerson singled with one out for Western Michigan's first hit of the game. After taking second, he scored on a single from Zach Gentile. Another single by Mark Abro set up Marquedt's triple.

Shane Wolf

Western Michigan also added single tallies in the fourth and sixth innings.

Sophomore Shane Wolf (Freeville, NY/Lansing) singled in his first career at bat, as the Bulls' lefthanded ace was put in the lineup at first base. He delivered a single to right center and finished 1-for-3.

Junior Adam Ruszkowski (Utica, NY/Proctor) (3-2) put together a strong start for the Bulls, going seven innings and allowing seven hits and five runs. He struck out one and walked one before yielding to freshman Zach Anderson (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) , who tossed a perfect eighth inning.

The Bulls and Broncos meet again in the second game of the three-game set on Saturday at 1:00 pm at Hyames Field.

04/14/2006