BASEBALL

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

BATAVIA, NY - The University at Buffalo gained a split with Ohio University in its four-game Mid-American Conference series taking a 7-1 victory at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia Sunday afternoon. It was the first time that UB had beaten a MAC opponent twice in a series this season. UB is now 9-29 overall and 4-16 in league play. Ohio is 19-18 and 6-9 in the conference.

The Bulls picked up a complete game six-hitter from junior righthander Brendan Dunford (Buffalo, NY/Timon/St. Jude). Dunford struck out five and held the Bobcats scoreless for 8.1 innings on Sunday. Dunford ran a scoreless string of 10.2 innings dating to last appearance, in relief at Niagara on Wednesday, before the Bobcats pushed across a run in the top of the ninth.

UB jumped in front in the second inning as Bryan Sanchez (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) walked to begin the inning. Sanchez advanced to second on single by Eric Huber (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) and came around to score on Kevin Brown's (Amherst, NY/Amherst) single to center to give the Bulls a 1-0 edge. Brandon DiCesare (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) homered to left center to give the Bulls a 2-0 lead in the third inning.

The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the eighth when the Bulls scored five runs, capitalizing on three Ohio errors. With DiCesare and Sanchez at second and first, respectively, Huber attempted to sacrifice the runners over. Huber's bunt was fielded by Ohio pitcher Marc Cornell who threw to third in an attempt to force DiCesare. However, third baseman Adam Fox dropped the throw as the Bulls loaded the bases. With the infield drawn in and no outs, Brown bounced a grounder to short. Tony Gandee's throw was dropped by catcher Scott Brownlee allowing DiCesare to give UB a 3-0 lead.

After Sanchez was forced at home on Scott Gruver's (Vestal, NY/Vestal) grounder, Corey Blair (Oneida, NY/Oneida) bounced a grounder to Fox at third who threw to Brownlee to force Huber. Brownlee's throw to first sailed high and wide allowing Brown to come around from second with the fourth run.

Kevin Nesteruk (Cheektowaga, NY/West Seneca East), hitting just .130 at the beginning of the day, then drilled a double to the left field wall scoring Gruver for the 5-0 lead. Mike Dunn then relieved Cornell for the Bobcats and was greeted by a Rob Golemba (New City, NY/Clarkstown South) double to left scoring Nesteruk and Blair for the 7-0 lead.

Ohio picked up their lone run as Chuck Lombardy opened the ninth with a double and scored on Rob Shrawder's RBI groundout.

Dunford, who improved his record to 2-4, was helped by two double plays by the Bulls, including an unassisted twin-killing as Blair snared Gandee's line drive to first and stepped on the bag to retire Cory Keylor to end the Ohio seventh.

UB hosts St. Bonaventure Tuesday at Dunn Tire Park for a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 pm.