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DeKALB, IL - The University at Buffalo was swept by Northern Illinois, 8-7 and 13-4, in a baseball doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field. With the losses the Bulls fall to 15-25 overall and conclude their Mid-American Conference season at 6-17 while the Huskies improve to 22-27 and 10-11 in league play.

A late rally by the Bulls fell short in game one as UB dropped the 8-7 decision. UB scored three runs in the final two innings to close the gap but could not complete the comeback stranding runners on first and second to end the game. The Bulls would strand 15 baserunners in the seven-inning opener, including leaving the bases loaded three times.

Bryan Sanchez

The Bulls took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a double by Bryan Sanchez (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) to score Eric Huber (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park). Northern Illinois, however, took the lead in the bottom of the first with four runs off UB starter Tyler Balentine (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) (2-5), including a two-run homer by Dan Urban.

UB closed to 5-3 in the third inning as Sanchez unloaded his seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot to right center, scoring Huber, who was hit by a pitch to open the inning, ahead of him. Sanchez led the Bulls with three hits in the opener.

After NIU increased the lead to 7-3, UB picked up a run in the top of fourth as Huber brought home Joe Mihalics (Tonawanda, NY/Timon/St. Jude) with an RBI single. However, the Bulls left the bases loaded to end the inning.

The Bulls added a pair of runs in the sixth to close to 8-6 as Sanchez crossed the plate on a fielding error and Brian Zelasko (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) knocked in Jordan Alcott (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) with an RBI single. In the seventh, Huber scored his third run of the game as Andy Wengert (Utica, NY/Proctor) doubled to center with two outs. John Boom (London, Ontario/Catholic Central) was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second and keep the rally alive, but Alcott grounded out to end the contest.

In game two, the Huskies jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the first two innings against starter Brendan Dunford (Buffalo, NY/Timon/St. Jude) (4-7). Urban hit a three-run homer in the second as NIU scored five of the seven runs in the second inning.

Eric Huber

UB got on the board in the third as Tim Sova (Rochester, NY/Greece-Athena) scored on a basehit by Mihalics. The Bulls added a pair in the fourth as Huber homered to right field, his third of the season, scoring Sanchez, who had doubled earlier.

NIU put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth with five runs, including a Pat Kerrigan two-run homer, to give the Huskies a 12-3 edge.

The Bulls plated a run in the fifth as Boom, who struck out but reached first on the dropped third strike, came around to score when Adrian Daniels (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) hit into a fielder's choice with the bases loaded. The Bulls left two runners on base to end the inning, their only two of the game, as UB was held to one hit over the final four innings.

UB returns home to host Niagara in a doubleheader on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. at the Amherst Pepsi Center Field.