Bulls' Bats Beat Bonnies in Big 4 Doubleheader Sweep

Buffalo comes from behind for 8-4, 8-5 wins against A-10 playoff hopeful St. Bonaventure

Mike Folli

OLEAN, NY - A three-run rally in the top of the sixth inning capped by back-to-back RBI singles from sophomore Mike Folli (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) and freshman Brad Agustin (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) in the nightcap lifted the University at Buffalo baseball team to its first doubleheader sweep against Big 4 rival St. Bonaventure since 1972, winning the second game, 8-5 after taking the first game, 8-4.

James Kingsley

The Bulls (9-24 overall) came from behind in both games and a 5-for-8 day from senior James Kingsley (Medina, NY/Medina) helped pace the team to the sweep of Atlantic 10 playoff hopeful Bonnies (13-14 overall).

Jacob Rosenbeck

Down 5-3 heading into the sixth, the Bulls mounted a one-out rally as freshman Jacob Rosenbeck (Medina, NY/Medina) singled to right center before two walks loaded the bases for Folli, who snuck an RBI single past a diving second baseman to score two runs and tie the game. After Folli was thrown out stealing second for the second out, Agustin took the drama out of his at bat on the next pitch, as he singled up the middle to score freshman Eric Flynn (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) with the winning run.

Buffalo added two more in the seventh inning, as Kingsley singled before junior Dan Quinn (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) lifted a monster homer to left field.

Shane Wolf

The Bulls' bullpen shut down the Bonnies in the last three innings, as sophomore Shane Wolf (Freeville, NY/Lansing) (1-5) won his first career game, tossing a scoreless frame of relief, striking out two. Senior Sean McWilliams (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) followed with a perfect sixth for his second hold and junior Adam Ruszkowski (Utica, NY/Proctor) struck out two for his first career save in a perfect seventh inning.

After falling behind 2-0 in the bottom of the first, the Bulls cracked the scoreboard in the second after Rosenbeck drew a two-out walk and freshman James Piazza (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville North) singled, setting the table for a bloop single to right field from Flynn to make it 2-1. In the third, the Bulls tied the game, as senior Carl Aquila (Alden, NY/St. Mary's/Erie CC) led off with a single. After a hit-and-run groundout and a hit batter, he scored on a single to right from senior David Amaro (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) .

Buffalo took the lead in the fourth as Folli lifted his second homer of the season over the right field fence, but St. Bonaventure fired back with three in the bottom of the fifth highlighted by a solo homer from Randy Moley, giving the Bonnies the 5-3 lead.

Freshman Zach Anderson (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) tossed four-plus innings, allowing seven hits and five runs in his first career start. He struck out four in a gutsy performance in which he left four Bonnies stranded.

Sean Bruet (1-2) took the loss, throwing three innings and allowing six hits and five runs.

Folli went 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs and Piazza also went 2-for-3 to pace the Bulls11-hit attack, which saw all nine batters get into the offensive action with a hit.

Preseason All-America Brian Pellegrini went 3-for-4 with an RBI to pace the Bonnie offense and Moley went 2-for-4 with a homer and two runs. Josh Perkins and Matt Mardeusz also had two hits for the Bonnies.

David Amaro

A three-run homer from Amaro in the fifth inning and a 4-for-4 game from Kingsley lifted the Bulls to a come-from-behind victory, 8-4, in the first game.

Buffalo got on the scoreboard immediately off Bonaventure starter John Nolan, as Aquila singled with two outs setting up a double to deep right-center from Kingsley. St. Bonaventure fired back in the bottom of the frame, though, as Pelligrini hit a monster two-run shot to left field.

Buffalo tied the game in the third inning, as Folli walked, stole second with two outs and scored on a single up the middle by Kingsley. The Bonnies answered with a run in the bottom of the third, setting up the Bulls' come-from-behind four-run fifth.

Carl Aquila

With two outs, Aquila singled before Kingsley and Quinn followed with singles, plating Aquila and tying the game. Amaro followed with his fourth homer of the year, a shot to left center, making it 6-3.

Joe Rizzo cut the lead to two with homer to right-center off senior Matt Larson's (Canandaigua, NY/Pomona) first pitch. Larson settled down to offer two innings of relief, with the only run coming off Rizzo's homer.

Buffalo, meanwhile, couldn't be contained, as Piazza singled with one out and Folli followed with a single. Agustin delivered a single through the right side to score a run and after Aquila was intentionally walked to load the bases, Kingsley followed with a run-scoring single to make it 8-3.

Kingsley paced the Bulls with his school-record 41st career double and three RBIs while Aquila, who batted in front of cleanup man Kingsley, went 2-for-3 with two runs.

Mardeusz went 2-for-4 for the Bonnies.

Freshman Steve Geltz (Ransomville, NY/Wilson) (1-3) notched his first career win with four innings of work as the starter, as he gave up five hits, three walks and three runs. He struck out five. Ruszkowski pitched a scoreless seventh, striking out two.

Nolan (2-1) drew the loss for the Bonnies, allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Brad Agustin

Agustin extended his hitting streak to a season-high nine games, as the shortstop has moved his average up 35 points in that time and added six RBIs to the Bulls' cause.

Buffalo returns to Amherst Audubon Field on Friday with a 3:00 pm game against Mid-American Conference foe Ohio.

04/19/2006