James Kingsley

BUFFALO, NY - The right side of the infield wasn't all freshman Mike Folli (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) and junior James Kingsley (Medina, NY/Medina) shared on Friday afternoon. They also shared similar statistics, as the University at Buffalo baseball team's two leading hitters each had hits in their first three at bats and fourth-inning triples to lead Buffalo to a 7-4 win against Marshall at Amherst Audubon Field.

The win helped Buffalo (17-30-1 overall, 3-14-1 MAC) set a school record for wins since the team was reinstated in 2000 after a 13-year absence from the University, as Buffalo scored three runs in both the third and fourth innings to cruise to the win against Marshall (16-32 overall, 8-14 MAC).

Mike Folli

Second baseman Folli finished 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI to move into fourth-place in runs in a season with 41. He is two shy of senior shortstop Joe Mihalics' (Tonawanda, NY/Timon-St.Jude) record set in 2004.

Kingsley finished 3-for-4 with a run and three RBIs as he became the first player in school history to drive in 50 runs in a season with his fourth-inning triple.

In the bottom of the third, sophomore third baseman Mike Connelly (Utica, NY/Proctor) walked, Folli singled and senior center fielder Phil Vanhorne (Scarborough, Ontario/Mother Teresa) was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. A sac fly by Mihalics and a single by first baseman Kingsley plated runs. Two more walks forced in another run.

The Thundering Herd got a run back in the fourth as three singles and a sacrifice fly plated a run. However, the Bulls got three more in their half of the fourth, as Connelly singled in front of a diving right fielder to lead off and Folli offered up a fly ball that went past a center fielder who was cheating in for his team-leading third triple of the year. After Vanhorne walked, Folli was thrown out at the plate during a double steal. Senior shortstop Joe Mihalics (Tonawanda, NY/Timon-St.Jude) hit a fly to first that was lost in the sun, allowing him to reach for Kingsley who shattered a bat while driving a pitch off the left field wall to plate two runs.

Marshall came thundering back in the fifth, though, as three errors, a fielder's choice that didn't get an out, a walk and one hit led to three unearned runs. However, junior Matt Johnson (Montague, MI/Montague/Grand Rapids CC) shut the door on Marshall, allowing three hits and no walks in the final four innings as he struck out three to earn his first Division I save.

The Bulls played small ball to get ahead in the first inning, as freshman second baseman Mike Folli (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) hit a bloop single into center field to lead off, stole second, took third on a groundout and scored on a passed ball.

Marshall had a chance to even the score in the top of the third when an error put a runner on second with two outs. Aaron Jamieson singled through the right side of the infield, but senior right fielder Andy Wengert (Utica, NY/Proctor) came up firing, and his through cut down the runner by five feet at the plate.

Tony Kurtz

Freshman Tony Kurtz (Newfane, NY/Newfane) (6-3) allowed just one earned run in five innings, as he gave up five hits and two walks while striking out three to earn the win. It is the first time in his four starts that he did not go at least six innings, yet he still qualified for his sixth win of the year, tying for fifth place on UB's all-time list.

Chris Cummings (3-4) took the loss for the Thundering Herd, allowing six hits and five walks in three-plus innings before Brian Knippelmeyer allowed one run on three hits in the final five frames.

Buffalo and Marshall continue their series on Saturday at 1:00 pm at Amherst Audubon Field.