Weekly Baseball Release

Adam Skonieczki

Adam Skonieczki Named MAC East Player of the Week

Junior Adam Skonieczki was named the Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week on May 4. Skonieczki’s efforts at the plate and in center field, helped the Bulls win their conference weekend series over #23 Kent State while tying the program mark for most wins in a season (19) since the Bulls’ reinstatement to Division I status in 2000. This marks the sixth time a Bull has earned the honor of MAC East Division Player/Pitcher of the Week.

Bulls Split Twinbill with St. Bonaventure

The Bulls continue to make history as they broke the record for most wins since the team’s reinstatement to Division I status in 2000 by defeating St. Bonaventure 10-4 victory in game one of a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at the Amherst Audubon Field. In the nightcap, the Bulls fell to the Bonnies, 2-1 in a pitcher’s duel.

Eric Flynn

With the score tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the third inning of game one, Eric Flynn broke the contest open by crushing a three-RBI double to the right-center wall, putting the Bulls in the lead, 7-4. The Bulls added runs in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings to seal their record-breaking victory. Flynn went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a season-high four RBIs. In 4.0 innings of relief work, River McWilliams(3-3) allowed no runs off two hits while collecting the victory.

In the nightcap, the Bulls took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second off an RBI single to right by Brian Randazzo, his second of the day. The Bonnies tied the game in the third and took the lead in the fifth inning for the 2-1 margin.

Bulls Swept by Bowling Green in Final Conference Home Series; Ciesla Breaks Single-Season Hitting Record

The Bulls faced Bowling Green in their final conference home series of 2009, falling in all three games as strong winds blew in each contest.

Chris Ciesla

On Friday, the Bulls were downed 21-6 by Bowling Green. Despite the Bulls’ loss, Chris Ciesla broke the all-time single-season record for most hits (78) as he collected three hits on the day. BG jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead after two innings. The Bulls chipped away at the Falcons’ lead with six runs in the third and fourth innings including a solo shot by Brad Agustin and a two-run shot by Rob Lawler. In the fourth, Lawler hit his fifth home run of the season and second of the game with a two-run blast, however were kept scoreless in the remaining four innings. Lawler went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBIs off two home runs. Lawler’s two home runs in the contest tied the program mark for most home runs in a single-game.

On Saturday, the Bulls fell, 13-3 as the teams faced constant winds of 30 mph with gusts reaching in excess of 45 mph. Trailing 7-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the Bulls went on the board off a ground out to short by Lawler, driving in Agustin from third. In the bottom of the seventh, Flynn drilled a shot to right for his second home run of the season to cut the Falcons’ lead to 8-2. Karstedt went 2-for-4 including a double and a triple with one RBI.

River McWilliams

UB finished the home slate on Sunday with a 15-7 loss to the Falcons. The 2009 senior class of Zach Anderson, Ciesla, Flynn, Dan Francis, Devin Greeno, James Piazza, Randazzo and Mike Stangroom were honored prior to the first pitch. In the contest, UB scored single runs in seven of the nine innings on Sunday. McWilliams went 3-for-5 including an RBI double followed by an RBI triple to score the Bulls’ final run.

Mike Folli Promoted to Memphis Redbirds

After starting the 2009 season in Double-A, former UB standout Mike Folli was recently promoted to the Memphis Redbirds of the Pacific Coast League, the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. On Friday, May 8, Folli broke into the starting lineup at shortstop versus the Iowa Cubs, Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

On Deck: Youngstown State and Ohio

The Bulls finish the 2009 season on the road as they face Youngstown State and MAC opponent Ohio. The Bulls will first travel to Niles, OH to face Youngstown State for the first time in program history on Wednesday, May 13 with the first pitch set for 3:00 pm. Following the contest, the Bulls will travel to Athens, Ohio to face Ohio in their final conference series of the 2009 season on May 14-16. Game one is scheduled for Thursday, May 14 with the first pitch set for 6:00 pm. The Bulls hold an all-time record of 11-14-1 against the Bobcats. In 2005, the Bulls tied the Bobcats 8-8 in a 13-inning stalemate with the game called due to persistant rain.