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McGraw Makes Marshall Leave Empty-Handed in Buffalo Sweep
BUFFALO, NY - Freshman second baseman Mike Folli (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) got the best going-away present he could for the University at Buffalo baseball team's six seniors Sunday at Amherst Audubon Field. His seventh inning single scored senior right fielder Andy Wengert (Utica, NY/Proctor) to tip the scales in UB's favor as senior right-hander Chris McGraw (Summerville, SC/Stratford/Coffeyville CC) tossed a seven-hit shutout to lift the team to a 1-0 win against Marshall in Mid-American Conference action to wrap up UB's season. The win helped Buffalo (19-30-1 overall, 5-14-1 MAC) to its first-ever sweep of a conference team since joining the MAC in 2001, after beating Marshall (16-34 overall, 8-16 MAC) 7-4 on Friday and 6-2 on Saturday. However, this may be the last game in the rivalry, as Marshall heads to Conference USA for the 2005-06 school year.
McGraw (2-5) struggled at times on the day as he allowed three hits in the fifth inning, but got out of the inning thanks to a runner being gunned down on a stolen base attempt and a key strikeout. In the sixth inning, an error after a strikeout and a hit put runners on second and third with one out, but McGraw once again got a key strikeout and a fly ball to get out of the jam. McGraw managed to settle down late, allowing just one hit and striking out five batters, including the last of his career, on a curveball that dropped off the table into the dirt on his 142nd pitch of the game. McGraw, who earned his first career complete game shutout, struck out a career-high 12 batters, also setting a season-high in the season finale for the Bulls. He walked two and left eight Thundering Herd batters on base. Marshall starter Chris Koutsavlis (3-6) pitched seven strong innings, allowing only three hits and one run while walking five and striking out five to take the hard-luck loss after beating MAC West Division champion Ball State last Sunday.
Adam Ptacek went 2-for-3 for the Thundering Herd. Senior center fielder Phil Vanhorne (Scarborough, Ontario/Mother Teresa)
and senior left-hander Anthony Marchioli (Buffalo, NY/West Seneca West)
were honored in a ceremony along with
Mihalics, Wengert, Boom and McGraw before the game for their contributions to UB baseball.
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