Chris McGraw

PITTSBURGH, PA - A six-run fifth inning by Duquesne did in the University at Buffalo baseball team as it dropped an 8-5 decision at Duquesne Field on Thursday. It was the Bulls' final non-conference game of the season.

The Bulls took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI double by Chris McGraw (Summerville, SC/Stratford) that scored James Kingsley (Medina, NY/Medina). Kingsley reached base via a single to extend his hitting streak to 19 games. The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the third inning when Dan Schwatzbauer tied the game with a sacrifice fly.

The Bulls took a 2-1 lead in top of the fifth inning compliments of a solo home run by John Boom (London, Ontario/Catholic Central). It was Boom's first home run of the season. Ignited by a two-run home run by Derek Mechling and capped by a two-run triple by Corey Bugno, Duquesne scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 7-2 lead.

Kingsley hit his seventh home run of the season to cut the Dukes' lead to 7-3. Duquesne added a run in the bottom of the sixth to go up 8-3. McGraw struck again in the eighth inning with a two-run single that scored Mike Connelly (Utica, NY/Proctor) and Joe Mihalics (Tonawanda, NY/Timon/St. Jude) to cut the lead to 8-5. Mihalics reached base on his 173 career hit - tying the school record for hits in a career.

Tony Scarpace (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) was charged with the loss in relief after allowing six earned runs over 2.2 innings. Mike Korzeniewski got the win for the Dukes.

With the loss, the Bulls fell to 15-36 on the season. The win improved Duquesne's record to 21-26. Buffalo will wrap up the 2004 campaign with a three-game series at Marshall beginning on Friday.