Bulls Split Twinbill, Buck Broncos In Weekend Series

UB prevails in game one, 3-1, but falls short in game two, 7-6

Adam Skonieczki

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo baseball team picked up its second win of the weekend in Saturday's opening game of the doubleheader against Western Michigan, 3-1, before falling just short in the second billing, 7-6, at Amherst Audobon Field. The successful weekend marks the first series win of the season for the Bulls, helping propel the team towards the middle of the Mid-American Conference standings midway through the 2007 season.

The weather proved to be a bit kinder on the athletes one day removed from having played extra innings in windy and brisk conditions. The Bulls (5-24, 4-8 MAC), led by junior Nick Walczak's (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) RBI double, posted three runs in the fourth inning, providing the immediate surge needed to take the first game. Sophomore Brad Agustin (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) knocked in the team's other two runs with a single that tippytoed the left field line in the outfield.

Brad Agustin

That was all junior right-hander Mark Tourangeau (Oakville, Ontario/Queen Elizabeth Park) needed, as he was able to shut down the Bronco (9-18, 4-6 MAC) offense with six innings of four-hit ball. He struck out eight batters in that span.

The Bulls rallied in the end of the second game, chipping away at the 6-2 deficit created in the fourth inning when WMU posted five runs on six hits. Senior Adam Ruszkowski (Utica, NY/Proctor), who had been battling illness all week, managed four strong innings before letting up the runs, striking out five batters.

Eric Flynn

Freshman Adam Skonieczki (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) decided to lead by example in the bottom half of the inning, leading off with a single right out of the gates. The true freshman would score later in the inning off a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to three. Leading off the inning once agian, Skonieczki roped a single up the middle and eventually scored off a long single from fellow freshman Bobby Pizzuto (Mentor, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral). For a third time, Skonieczki would land on first base to kick start the UB batting order in the eighth, finally scoring from third following an Eric Flynn (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) single into right field. With the RBI, the lead had dwindled to one run, but the Bulls were unable to post any runs in the ninth. Flynn would lead the Bulls in game two with three runs batted in, while junior Mike Folli (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) hit 3-for-4 with two doubles.

The Bulls take a short break before returning to Amherst Audobon Field on Tuesday to tangle with St. Bonaventure in non-conference action. The game is scheduled for 2:00 pm.

04/14/2007