NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY - The University at Buffalo picked up a 7-2 victory over the Niagara University in a non-conference baseball game Wednesday afternoon at Niagara's John Bobo Field. With the win, UB improves to 9-13 while Niagara drops to 6-23.

Mark McMahon

UB used strong pitching holding the Purple Eagles scoreless over the first six innings to cruise to the win as Niagara stranded 14 runners in the contest to UB's four. Starting pitcher Mark McMahon (West Seneca, NY/Timon/St. Jude) went the first four innings allowing three hits and striking out three. Although he walked seven and hit a man, McMahon was able to work out of a couple of jams, including the bottom of the first, when Niagara loaded the bases with no outs. Josh McCurdy then hit a come-backer to McMahon to start a home-to-first double play. After issuing another walk, McMahon ended the inning with a called third strike to Mike Cima.

Bryan Sanchez

The Bulls jumped on top in the fourth when Brandon DiCesare (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) led off with a double and came around to score on a double by John Boom (London, Ontario/Catholic Central). UB added two more in the sixth on Bryan Sanchez's (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) fourth home run of the season, scoring Phil Vanhorne (Scarborough, Ontario/Mother Teresa) ahead of him. It was Sanchez's third home run in the last two games.

UB added three more runs in the seventh as Vanhorne doubled home

Phil Vanhorne

Joe Mihalics (Tonawanda, NY/Timon/St. Jude) and Jordan Alcott (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) with Alcott scoring on a close play at the plate. DiCesare then added an RBI single to plate Vanhorne.

After Brendan Dunford (Buffalo, NY/Timon/St. Jude) went two scoreless innings and striking out four, Nick Bellacose (Clarence, NY/Clarence) came on to pitch the final three innings and earn his first collegiate save. Niagara scored in the seventh off Bellacose on Reed Eastley's fielder's choice to plate Vince Ircandia.

The Bulls scored their final run on an eighth-inning sacrifice fly by Corey Blair (Oneida, NY/Oneida) to score Eric Huber (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) who led off with a double and moved to third on a flyout by Boom. The Purple Eagles added a run in the ninth on McCurdy's third homer of the season.

Two streaks for Tim Sova (Rochester, NY/Greece-Athena) were stopped on Wednesday. Sova went 0-for-4 at the plate, stopping his hit streak at seven games. He also did not score in the game breaking a string of seven games with at least one run scored. Sova was tagged out at the plate in the seventh inning after reaching on fielding error.

Dunford (3-4) picked up the win in relief. Niagara starter Matt McNally (1-5) took the loss with six innings of work and seven strikeouts.

UB travels to Miami (Ohio) for a four-game Mid-American Conference series starting on Friday.