Akron Zips Past Bulls in Eighth for 7-5 Win

McWilliams sets career high with 12 strikeouts

Sean McWilliams

AKRON, OH - Four errors and three hits in the bottom of the eighth inning helped Akron to five runs and a 7-5 come-from-behind win against the University at Buffalo baseball team in Mid-American Conference play at Lee Jackson Baseball Field on Friday afternoon.

Senior Sean McWilliams (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) matched Akron ace Ross Liersemann, the MAC's leader in innings pitched, all day long, as he struck out a career-high 12, including striking out the side in the third inning, getting two double plays in the first two innings and striking out two in three other frames. However, he ran into trouble in the bottom of the eighth, as a single, an error and a walk forced him from the mound.

The Akron (11-26 overall, 5-11 MAC) rally continued as an error cut Buffalo's lead to 5-3 and after a strikeout for the first out, a single by Vince Chiera and an outfield error cleared the bases and made it 6-5 in favor of the Zips. Marcus Geiselman followed with a double to extend the lead to 7-5.

Buffalo (11-28 overall, 3-13 MAC) jumped out to an early lead as freshman Eric Flynn (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) doubled down the right field line to lead off, extending his hitting streak to seven games. Freshman Brad Agustin (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) followed with a walk. Senior Carl Aquila (Alden, NY/St. Mary's/Erie CC) laid down a sacrifice bunt, but the pitcher threw wildly to first, allowing Flynn to score and Agustin to take third. Senior James Kingsley (Medina, NY/Medina) followed with a grounder to short, driving in Agustin

James Kingsley

The Bulls jumped back on Liersemann in the fourth inning as Kingsley doubled to the opposite field for his 45th career two-bagger. Junior Dan Quinn (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) followed with a mammoth two-run homer to center field, making it a 4-0 lead.

The Zips cut the lead to two runs, as Chiera singled to lead off the fifth and after a strikeout, Rashard Graves lifted a homer to left field to cut the lead to 4-2.

Buffalo got another run in the eighth to extend the lead to three runs, as Flynn led off with a single. After a strikeout, Aquila singled to right field moving Quinn to second and setting up an RBI single from Kingsley for his 123rd career RBI, tying Rudy Pettiford (1979-82) for second place on UB's career list.

McWilliams finished, allowing seven hits in seven-plus innings, with three earned runs. Freshman Zach Anderson (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) (1-1) took the loss, allowing two hits and two earned runs in 1/3 of an inning.

Liersemann (5-4), who struggled all day, finished with a complete game eight-hitter, allowing four earned runs and a walk. He struck out 10.

Eric Flynn

Brian Kimutis finished 3-for-5 with a run and Chiera added two runs and a 2-for-4 game to lead Akron. Flynn went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored and Kingsley went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead Buffalo.

The two teams will battle again Saturday at 1:00 pm at Lee Jackson Field in the second game of the three-game set.

04/28/2006