Bulls Rally to Steal Victory From #23 Kent State

Four-run eighth inning gives UB 15-14 win over Golden Flashes

BUFFALO, NY – For the first time in program history, the University at Buffalo baseball team hosted a nationally-ranked team at the Amherst Audubon Field. The Bulls returned home for game one of a conference weekend series the 23rd nationally ranked Kent State by Baseball America. The game came down to the eighth inning as the Bulls trailed the Golden Flashes 13-11, heading into the bottom of the inning. The Bulls managed to rally for four runs in the inning including a game-wnning RBI single by Brad Agustin to eventually lead the Bulls to a 15-14 victory.

Brad Agustin

In the top of the second, the Golden Flashes hopped out to a 1-0 lead when Jim Rider chopped an RBI single to center.

After striking out the first batter to start the third, the Golden Flashes returned with a solo shot to dead center by Greg Rohan. The Golden Flashes continued to extend their lead to 5-0 off a three-run shot to right by Travis Shaw.

Brian Randazzo

Facing two outs in the bottom of the fourth, the Bulls erased the Golden Flashes’ lead with seven runs off eight straight hits. Brad Cochrane started the Bulls off with a solo shot off the left-field pole to put the Bulls on the board. Following a double by Bobby Pizzuto, Adam Skonieczki smashed a triple off the left-center wall with Skonieczki also scoring on a throwing error to third by the Kent State second baseman. Charlie Karstedt added an RBI single to left field to pull the Bulls within one, 5-4. With runners on first and second, Rob Lawler sent an RBI liner down the left-field line to tie the game at 5-5. The Bulls grabbed a 7-5 lead when Brian Randazzo ripped a two-RBI single through the right side.

The Bulls extended its lead to 11-5 in the bottom of the fifth off two hits. The first run came with the bases loaded as Agustin grounded out to short, allowing Cochrane to score. Chris Ciesla added a run to the Bulls’ total as he dropped an RBI single into left field. The Bulls closed out the inning by scoring on a double play at first and second with Karstedt crossing the plate at home.

Adam Skonieczki

In the top of the sixth, the Golden Flashes shaved a run off the Bulls’ lead with a solo shot to center by Rohan, his second of the day.

The Golden Flashes erupted for a seven-run inning of their own in top of the seventh. The Golden Flashes scored twice off Buffalo wild pitches and collected a pair of two-RBI hits by Jason Patton and Jared Humphreys to take the lead 13-11.

Kent State added a run to lead off the top of the eighth with a solo shot by Brad Winter, extending the Golden Flashes' lead to 14-11.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Bulls rallied for an eventual 15-14 victory over the nationally-ranked Golden Flashes. The Bulls tied the game at 14-14 as Skonieczki reached first off a throwing error to first by the Kent State third baseman scoring, Devin Greeno and River McWilliams. With pinch runner Eric Flynn occupying third, Agustin sent a shot to Kent State pitcher Andrew Chafin, allowing Flynn to race home for the eventual game-winning run.

Zach Anderson

Skonieczki and Ciesla went 3-for-5 at the plate with Skonieczki recording a team-high four RBIs. Agustin went 2-for-4 with two RBIs including the game-winning single. Cochrane also went 2-for-4 while scoring two runs.

In 2.1 innings of work, Zach Anderson (4-5) collected the win for the Bulls, leaving two Golden Flashes swinging.

The Bulls (18-26, 5-13 MAC) will return to Amherst Audubon Field on Saturday, May 2 for game two of the conference home series versus Kent State with the first pitch at 1:00 pm.