Bulls Zip Past Akron, 7-5

Chris Ciesla hits third home run of the season

Chris Ciesla

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo baseball team used a four-run third inning to take the opener of a three-game series against Akron, 7-5, Friday afternoon at Amherst Audubon Field. The Bulls improve to 9-26 with the victory and 7-9 in conference play.

After allowing a run in the top of the first inning, UB tied the game up in the bottom of the frame as freshman Bobby Pizzuto (Mentor, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral) drove in Mike Folli (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) with a single.

UB then broke through in the bottom of the third inning as they scored four runs in the inning, capped of by a two-run home run from sophomore Chris Ciesla (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott). The long ball was the third of the season for Ciesla and the first home run hit at home for UB. Pizzuto scored a run on a passed ball while sophomore Eric Flynn (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) was driven in on a double from Nick Walczak (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East). Walczak would later score on the Ciesla dinger.

Akron answered by scoring three runs of their own in the top of the fourth inning, pulling within one of Buffalo. However, UB answered with one run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Pizzuto scored on fielder’s choice of the bat of Brad Agustin (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East).

Bobby Pizzuto

Dan Francis (East Amherst, NY/Clarence) came on to relieve starter Mike Radanovic (Surrey, British Columbia/L.A. Matheson) in the seventh inning. The Zips cut into the UB lead in the top of the seventh as Kurt Davidson hit a solo home run to center field, making the score 6-5.

The Bulls picked up an additional run in the bottom of the seventh inning as Agustin hit a two-out double to right field, scoring Flynn. The UB coaching staff then called upon sophomore Steve Geltz (Ransomville, NY/Wilson) who earned the two-inning save. The save was his fourth of the season.

The Bulls and Zips continue their three-game series tomorrow as the two teams square off beginning at 1:00 pm.

04/27/2007