Eighth Inning Rally Pushes Bulls Past Akron, 10-4

Randazzo and Karstedt each pick up three hits for UB

Charlie Karstedt

BUFFALO, NY – Tied 4-4 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, the University at Buffalo baseball team exploded for six runs in the frame, on their way to a 10-4 victory over Akron on Friday afternoon. Brian Randazzo (St. Charles, MO/St. Charles) and Charlie Karstedt (Eden, NY/Eden) each had three hits on the day for the Bulls.

Akron took a 1-0 lead in the first. Kevin Haas led off the game with a single for the Zips and, following a strike out and a walk, scored on a single by Doug McNulty. The run was the first allowed by Mike Stangroom (Fallston, MD/Calvert Hall) in his last ten innings on the mound.

Brian Randazzo

Buffalo responded with three runs in the second. Shivam Bhan (Caledon, Ontario/Mayfield) singled down the right field line and Karstedt followed with a double down the left field line. After a walk to Kevin McCall (Chagrin Falls, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral), Bhan scored on an infield single by Rick Oliveri (Tonawanda, NY/Canisius). Bobby Pizzuto (Mentor, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral) followed with an RBI groundout and Randazzo drove in the third run of the inning on another infield single.

Buffalo tacked on another run in the third. Bhan drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a groundout. McCall then delivered a two-out RBI single to center field, increasing the UB lead to 4-1.

Akron tied the game with a pair of runs in the fifth and another run in the sixth. Kurt Davidson, Haas and McNulty each drove the three runs for the Zips.

After a scoreless seventh and top of the eighth, ten Bulls came to the plate in the six-run eighth. Bhan and Karstedt began the inning with a pair of doubles down each line, Bhan doubled down the left field line and Karstedt followed his second double of the day down the right field line, scoring Bhan and giving the Bulls the lead. McCall then reached on a bunt single and Oliveri then singled to right center, scoring Karstedt. E.J. Folli (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) got the fifth-straight hit for the Bulls with another bunt single and McCall scored on an error on the play. A single up the middle by Randazzo accounted for the sixth hit of the frame and two more runs for UB. After a fielder's choice and a caught stealing, Buffalo scored their sixth run of the inning when Nick Walczak (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) drew a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a single to left by Chris Ciesla (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott).

Chaz Rye

Randazzo and Oliveri each drove in a pair of runs for the Bulls, who improve their record to 12-26, 5-10 in the Mid-American Conference.

Chaz Mye (North Tonawanda, NY/St. Joseph's) pitched 2.1 innings out of the bullpen and collected his first win at UB.

Buffalo and Akron return to Amherst Audubon Field on Saturday afternoon for game two of their three-game series. First pitch on Saturday is set for 1:00 p.m.

04/25/2008