Kevin Nesteruk

BUFFALO, NY ­ Buffalo (12-27, 3-12) dropped the opening game of a four-game Mid-American Conference series, 6-1, to Ohio (25-18, 8-9) at Amherst Audubon Field on Friday afternoon.

Ohio got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning when Matt Geiger hit a two-out single that scored Ben Crabtree. Bryan Sanchez (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) scored on an Ohio error to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth.

After scoring once in the top of the sixth inning, the Bobcats added three more runs in the top of the seventh. The key blow was a two-run double by Crabtree. Ohio added a run in the top of the eighth inning and held on for the 6-1 victory.

All of the Bulls' nine hits were singles, led by Kevin Nesteruk (Cheektowaga, NY/West Seneca East) and Adrian Daniels (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) who each had two hits.

Shaun Peet pitched a complete game and didn't allow an earned run to pick up the win for Ohio. Tyler Balentine (Mendon, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) allowed five runs over seven innings and was credited with the loss.

The series will continue with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 pm at Audubon Field.