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UB Bats Explode Against Albany

After losing the first three games of a four-game weekend series at Albany, the Bulls came alive at the plate to win the final game against the Danes 15-0 in a complete game shutout for freshman Tyler Balentine (Mendon, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima).

Bryan Sanchez (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) led the Bulls hitting attack, going 3-for-4 with four runs scored, two RBIs and two home runs. Those two home runs give Sanchez 10 on the season, setting a new UB school record for homers in a single season.

Brian Zelasko (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) also collected three hits in the game, scored once and had two RBIs and Mike Flaherty (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) went 2-for-2 with three runs scored. The Bulls opened up with six runs in the first inning and added five more runs in the fourth. That was all the support that Balentine would need, as he went the distance, giving up no runs on five hits and struck out six. It was his second complete game of the season.

In earlier weekend games, the Danes swept the Bulls in a Saturday doubleheader, winning those two games 8-5 and 6-1. Adrian Daniels (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) collected two hits in each game. In Sunday's first game, Albany used a seven run fourth inning to take that game 11-4.

Bulls Split With LeMoyne

The Bulls split a doubleheader with LeMoyne last Thursday at Dunn Tire Park. UB won the opening game in a thriller, 5-4, but lost the nightcap 10-1.

In the first game, UB trailed 3-1 when Mike Flaherty hit a two-run homer to tie the score. With the game tied again at 4-4 in the final inning, the Bulls led off with a single by Kevin Nesteruk (Cheektowaga, NY/West Seneca East). A sacrifice bunt moved him to second and Flaherty got a base hit to right field, scoring Brian Zelasko who had come in to pinch run for the winning run.

Sanchez Bombs His Way into Record Books

Bryan Sanchez had a monster week for the Bulls, belting four home runs in the six games played, including two in one game against Albany. Sanchez hit .438 (7-for-16) on the week, with seven runs scored and six RBIs. His four home runs give him ten homers on the season, which set a new UB school record for home runs in a single season. The old mark was nine held by three players. He also ranks eighth in career homers with ten.

In addition, he needs just four more RBIs to rank in the single season record books for that category and needs one double to reach that top ten as well.

At the Plate

Freshman Rick Mariano (Williamsville, NY/St. Joe's) leads the Bulls from the plate, hitting .325 (25-for-77) on the year. Kevin Brown (Amherst, NY/Amherst Central) is second at .294 and has a team-high 40 hits as well. Bryan Sanchez has a team-best nine doubles and Kevin Brown, Mike Flaherty and Adrian Daniels have two triples each.

Bryan Sanchez leads the team in power, as he has collected ten home runs on the season and leads the team with 29 RBIs.

Playing the Fundamentals

One area of the game the Bulls have excelled at in particular this season is bunting. UB has recorded 26 sacrifice bunts this year compared to 16 by their opponents. The Bulls have also hit 15 sacrifice flies. Brandon DiCesare (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) leads the team with six sacrifice bunts, and Bryan Sanchez leads the team with four sacrifice flies.

Balentine Throws Second Complete Game Win

Freshman right-hander Tyler Balentine (Mendon, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) tossed a five-hit shutout in a 15-0 win at Albany this past weekend. Balentine recorded his second complete game this season and first career complete game shutout. He struck out six over the seven innings.

Balentine leads the UB pitching staff this season in wins and earned run average. Balentine currently has a 4-2 record on the year and has an earned run average at 3.99, having given up 17 earned runs over 38.1 innings. Tom Januchowski (Depew, NY/Lancaster) leads the staff with 47 strikeouts on the year. Jeff Robertson (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West) leads the team with three saves, the second highest single season total in UB history. He needs just two more to break the school record.

The Week Ahead

UB will finish up their season this week with six games in the Buffalo area. The Bulls will play a doubleheader at Niagara on May 2, beginning at 2 pm. UB will play a single game at Canisius on Wednesday, May 3, at 5 pm. UB closes out the season with a doubleheader against Stony Brook on Saturday, May 6, and a single game against Stony Brook on Sunday, May 7. Game time is set for 1 pm both days at Dunn Tire Park.

Bulls on TV

The Wednesday, May 3, UB game at Canisius will be broadcast on local television by Adelphia. The game will be shown on tape delay and will be broadcast on Friday, May 5, at 1 pm, and again on Sunday, May 7, at 8:30 pm on the local Adelphia station.