Bulls End Season With Loss to Ohio, 15-13

Buffalo has a season-best 19 hits in the loss

Jacob Rosenbeck

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo baseball team fell to Ohio, 15-13, in the final game of the 2008 season on Saturday afternoon at Amherst Audubon Field. Jacob Rosenbeck (Medina, NY/Medina) drove in five runs for the Bulls in the loss. High winds blowing out throughout the contest helped account for six home runs in the wild, high-scoring affair.

Ohio scored first with a pair of runs in the opening frame. Jeremie Rehak and Marc Krauss each drove in a run to give the Bobcats an early 2-0 advantage.

Buffalo tied the game with a pair in the second and took the lead with four runs in the third. Charlie Karstedt (Eden, NY/Eden) hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot down the right field line, to tie the game. In the third, Rosenbeck drove in a pair with a double to right center, giving Buffalo a 4-2 lead. Seniors Tony Fuller (Rochester, NY/Penfield) and Rick Oliveri (Tonawanda, NY/Canisius) then each drove home a run to extended the UB lead.

Charlie Karstedt

The Bobcats drew closer with three runs in the top of the fourth, but Buffalo answered with four in the bottom of the inning. Adam Skonieczki (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) hit a solo blast over the wall in right center and Rosenbeck added a three-run round-tripper later in the inning.

Buffalo added three more runs in the sixth. Fuller hit an RBI triple to plate the first run of the inning. Karstedt then singled home Fuller and Kevin McCall (Chagrin Falls, OH/Notre Dame Cathedral) drove in Karstedt with a double.

After a scoreless seventh, Ohio drew closer with five runs in the eighth. Matt Stiffler drove in the first run of the inning for the Bobcats with a single. Chris Klimko also singled to drive in the second Ohio run. Gauntlett Eldemire then hit a three-run shot over the center field fence to pull the Bobcats within three, 13-10.

Ohio took the lead with five more runs in the top of the ninth. Stiffler again drove in the first run of the inning, this time on a double. Two batters later, Klimko hit a grand slam over the left center field fence to complete the Ohio comeback.

Tony Kurtz

Chris Ciesla (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) had four hits on the day for UB. Skonieczki, Nick Walczak (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) and Karstedt each had three hits for the Bulls, who collected a season-best 19 hits.

Senior Tony Kurtz (Newfane, NY/Newfane) started on the mound and threw five innings, he was not involved in the decision.

Prior to the game, the Bulls honored their five seniors: E.J. Folli (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott), Tony Fuller, Tony Kurtz, Rick Oliveri and Nick Walczak who were all playing their final game in the blue and white.

Buffalo ends the season with a record of 14-38, 7-19 in the Mid-American Conference.

05/17/2008