Baseball Weekly Release

Rob Lawler Named MAC East Player of the Week

Rob Lawler

Junior Rob Lawler was named the Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week on April 13. For the week, Lawler batted .500 with a slugging percentage of 1.050 in the five contests with two doubles, three triples and a home run while collecting 21 total bases. This marks the first time this season a Bull has won the MAC East Division Player of the Week and the fifth time a Bull has earned MAC East Division Player/Pitcher of the Week honors.

Bulls Fall to Big Four Rival Canisius in the Ninth

The Bulls were unable to overcome Canisius’ ninth-inning offensive explosion, falling to the Big Four rival 10-6 on Tuesday afternoon. Despite trailing 5-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Bulls managed to tie the Golden Griffins at 5-5 with the game coming down to the ninth inning. Adam Skonieczki led the Bulls’ tying efforts by punching a two-RBI single through the right side to tie the game at five apiece. In the top of the ninth, the Golden Griffins jumped out to a 10-5 lead with a two-RBI double followed by a two-RBI single. The Bulls managed to score one run in the ninth off a ground out to second by Jacob Rosenbeck driving in Lawler from third. Bobby Pizzuto went 2-for-3 and Rosenbeck went 2-for-4 with each recording a run and an RBI.

Chris Ciesla

Bulls Fall in Non-Conference Matchup to Le Moyne

The next day, the Bulls returned to the Amherst Audubon Field as they fell to Le Moyne, 7-3 on Wednesday, April 15. The Bulls collected RBIs from Chris Ciesla and Charlie Karstedt but were unable to erase the lead, Le Moyne held throughout the game. Skonieczki went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Bulls Swept by Miami (OH) in Conference Weekend Series

Three two-run home runs including two in the fourth inning were not enough to push the Bulls past conference opponent Miami (OH) in a 15-9 decision on Friday evening. The Bulls and RedHawks combined for 30 hits including five home runs in the game. The Bulls led 9-8 through six and a half innings as Brad Cochrane, Shivam Bhan and Skonieczki hit two-run home runs. In the bottom of the seventh, the RedHawks scored six runs to retake the lead and hold on for the win. Skonieczki went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Rosenbeck also added four hits. Ciesla was denied a hit in four at bats, ending his 18-game hitting streak. The streak was the longest since the 2005 season when former UB standout Mike Folli went on a 22-game tear.

Adam Skonieczki

With inclement weather expected on Sunday, the Bulls and RedHawks played a doubleheader on Saturday with UB dropping each contest, 18-15 and 11-0. With the Bulls trailing, 18-6, in the top of the ninth of the opener, the Bulls’ bats turned hot with the RedHawks using five pitchers in the single inning. Ciesla had a two-RBI liner up the middle followed by an RBI single along the left-field line by Lawler. The Bulls continued to add to their run total when Skonieczki poked an RBI single through the right side. Brad Agustin closed the Bulls’ scoring rally with a two-RBI single to right field as the next two batters struck out looking, ending the Bulls’ chances to pull off a ninth inning rally for the win. Ciesla went 3-for-6 including a solo home run and team-highs of three RBIs and three runs. Lawler went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. In the nightcap, the Bulls were held scoreless with the RedHawks scoring in each of the first five innings to hold on for an 11-0 victory. Starter Mike Stangroom (1-2) returned to the mound following nearly a month-long absence, taking the loss in three innings of work. Cochrane went 1-for-1 with two walks. Agustin went 1-for-2 with two walks.

On Deck: Road Matchups with Niagara and Akron

This week, the Bulls will look to break their previous season win total (14) when they face Big Four rival Niagara and conference opponent Akron. The Bulls will start with a non-conference matchup on Wednesday, April 22 as they travel to Sal Maglie Stadium to face Niagara with the first pitch set for 4:00 pm. Earlier in the season, the Bulls swept the Purple Eagles in a doubleheader, 21-11 and 13-11 on Wednesday, April 8 at the Amherst Audubon Field. The Bulls end the week when they travel to Akron for a conference weekend series on April 24-26. Game one of the three-game set is scheduled for Friday, April 24 with the first pitch at 3:00 pm. The Bulls hold a 10-16 all-time record against the Zips with the Bulls going 2-1 in last year’s conference series at the Amherst Audubon Field.