Falcons Trip Up Bulls, 6-4

Agustin, Oliveri and E.J. Folli each collect two hits for the Bulls

Brad Agustin

BUFFALO, NY - Despite ninth-inning leadoff singles from freshman Brad Agustin (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East) and senior David Amaro (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott), the University at Buffalo baseball team couldn't drive in the runs, as Bowling Green's Tyler Johnson settled down to save the 6-4 Mid-American Conference win on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Amherst Audubon Field.

After a two-hour rain delay that started with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Tyler Johnson entered the game for Bowling Green (26-23 overall, 11-12 MAC) and breezed for three innings. He ran into trouble in the ninth, as a sac bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out, but he escaped trouble with a flyout and a strikeout, his fifth.

Agustin, sophomore Rick Oliveri (Tonawanda, NY/Canisius) and sophomore E.J. Folli (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) each had two hits for Buffalo, with Oliveri contributing a run, a double and two RBIs.

Bowling Green took the lead in the top of the sixth, as Marty Baird drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sac bunt and took third on a groundout. He scored when a 1-2 pitch hit the dirt and skidded past the Buffalo catcher.

The Falcons once again got out to an early lead, scoring twice in the top of the second inning, making good use of a walk, a hit and a two-base error.

Rick Oliveri

The Bulls pulled within one run in the bottom of the inning, as Agustin led off with a single up the middle. After a strikeout and a groundout to second base, Oliveri ripped a double that one-hopped the wall to drive in Agustin.

Josh Stewart, the Bulls' nemesis in the first game of the series, proved so once again in the third inning, as his one-out double helped the Falcons regain their two-run cushion. Another run crossed in the fourth to make it 4-1.

David Amaro

Amaro started the Bulls' comeback in the bottom of the inning with a two-out walk. Freshman Jacob Rosenbeck (Medina, NY/Medina) followed with a walk, setting up a big single to left from Oliveri. A miscue by the left fielder allowed Rosenbeck to rattle around the bases and score from first, making it a one-run game. Folli followed with a bloop single into right field and Oliveri rambled in from second base to tie the game.

E.J. Folli

After the rain delay, the Falcons threatened in the seventh and eighth innings, putting a runner on third with one out, but capitalizing neither time. In the ninth, however, the Bulls played with fire one too many times, as the Falcons got an insurance run after loading the bases with no outs and getting a sacrifice fly to score Stewart, who led off the inning with a double.

Stewart went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run and an RBI to lead the Falcons and Brian Hangbers and Jeff Talmanik also added two hits a piece.

Hangbers (5-3) earned the win for the Falcons, tossing 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits, three walks and two earned runs. He struck out three.

Junior Adam Ruszkowski (Utica, NY/Proctor) (5-4) took the hard-luck loss after 5 2/3 innings of gritty work, allowing seven hits, five walks and three earned runs. Freshman Steve Geltz (Ransomville, NY/Wilson) wrapped up the game, going 3 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, four walks and one run. He struck out five.

The Bulls and Falcons wrap up the three-game set on Sunday at 1:00 pm at Amherst Audubon Field. The game will be broadcast on WLVL-AM 1340 and can be heard on BuffaloBulls.com through Teamline.

05/13/2006