Bulls Fall to Youngstown State in First Ever Meeting

Ciesla ties Skonieczki in all-time single-season record for most runs scored (47); Flynn crushes his first career grand slam

NILES, OH – The University at Buffalo baseball team opened their final week of the 2009 regular season on the road by falling to Youngstown State 17-10 on Wednesday afternoon in the first ever meeting between the two teams.

Charlie Karstedt

The Bulls took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first off a muffed throw by the Penguins’ third baseman C.J. Morris, allowing Charlie Karstedt to score.

The Penguins erased the Bulls’ lead with two runs in the bottom of the first off an RBI double and RBI-base hit.

In the second and third innings, the Bulls and Penguins exchanged one-run innings with the Penguins remaining in the lead 4-3.

Bobby Pizzuto led the Bulls off in the top of the fourth by dropping a base hit into left field before stealing second and third to put himself in scoring position. With Pizzuto at third, Karstedt cranked his third home run of the season over the right-field wall, putting the Bulls in the lead 5-4.

Eric Flynn

In the bottom of the fourth, the Penguins recaptured the lead 11-5 by scoring seven runs off four hits including a two-RBI double.

The Bulls stormed back in the top of the fifth with five runs including a grand slam. Brad Cochrane started the Bulls off with an RBI-base hit through the left side. With the bases loaded, pinch hitter Eric Flynn crushed a grand slam to deep center for his third home run of the season, pulling the Bulls within one run, 11-10.

In the remaining innings, the Penguins expanded their lead to 17-10 as they scored six unanswered runs for the victory.

Chris Ciesla

Flynn went 1-for-2 with a run scored and a team-high four RBIs including his first career grand slam. Karstedt went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and runs scored. Kevin McCall went 3-for-5 and Cochrane went 2-for-3 with each adding an RBI and a run scored.

Chris Ciesla tied fellow Endicott, NY native Adam Skonieczki in the all-time single-season record for most runs scored (47) by scoring off McCall’s RBI single in the top of the fourth.

Reliever Chaz Mye (0-6) recorded the loss for the Bulls.

The Bulls (20-32, 6-17 MAC) will finish the 2009 season on the road as they travel to Athens, OH to face Mid-American Conference opponent Ohio on May 14-16. Game one is scheduled for Thursday, May 14 with the first pitch set for 6:00 pm.