Strong Pitching Leads Bulls to 3-0 Win Over Miami

Mike Stangroom and Steve Geltz combined to shutout the RedHawks

Mike Stangroom

BUFFALO, NY – Mike Stangroom (Fallston, MD/Calvert Hall) and Steve Geltz (Ransomville, NY/Wilson) combined to allow no runs and just five hits as the University at Buffalo baseball team defeated Miami (Ohio), 3-0, on Saturday afternoon at Amherst Audubon Field. With the victory, Buffalo improves to 10-23 on the season, 4-9 in the Mid-American Conference.

The Bulls and the RedHawks were scoreless through two and a half innings before Buffalo broke the deadlock with a run in the home half of the third. Brian Randazzo (St. Charles, MO/St. Charles) opened the inning by reaching base on an error by the Miami first baseman. Adam Skonieczki (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) immediately took advantage for UB with a RBI double to right center to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead.

Nick Walczak

The Bulls added to their lead with another run in the fourth. Nick Walczak (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) was hit by a pitch to open the inning and advanced to third when Shivam Bhan (Caledon, Ontario/Mayfield) doubled down the right field line. Walczak then scored on a RBI ground out by Rick Oliveri (Tonawanda, NY/Canisius).

Meanwhile, Stangroom was in full control on the mound for Buffalo. At one point between the second and fifth innings, the junior right-hander retired ten consecutive RedHawk hitters. Stangroom went 7.1 innings, allowing just three hits, two of which were bunt singles, while striking out four and walking just two.

Buffalo added an insurance run in the eighth, pushing the lead to 3-0. After reaching on a fielder's choice, Bobby Pizzuto (Mentor, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral) stole his team-leading seventh base of the season. With Pizzuto at second, Randazzo got an infield single and Pizzuto came around to score on a throwing error by the Miami second baseman.

Steve Geltz

Geltz pitched the final 1.2 innings for the Bulls, striking out two en route to collecting his fifth save of the season. Geltz has now extended his school saves record to 15.

Buffalo will look to complete the weekend sweep of Miami on Sunday afternoon when the two school meet in the finale of their three-game conference series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Amherst Audubon Field.

04/19/2008