BASEBALL

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BUFFALO, NY - In the program's first season since 1986, the University at Buffalo baseball program has already garnered some national recognition. Freshman pitcher Tyler Balentine (Mendon, NY/Honeoye-Falls Lima) and freshman infielder Bryan Sanchez (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) both received honorable mention honors on the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Team.

Bryan Sanchez

Sanchez had a record-breaking first year for the Bulls. He finished the season hitting .272 (37-for-136), and led the team with 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 33 RBIs. The 11 home runs broke the UB single season record and placed him in a tie for seventh in career home runs. Sanchez also finished eighth for RBIs in a season (33) and ninth in doubles for a season (10). All told, Sanchez etched his name into five single season records and two career records after his first season. He had three multi-homer games and had a career-high three hits on two occasions. Sanchez also led the team with a .603 slugging percentage and made just four errors at first base, with 352 total chances, for a fielding percentage of .989.

Tyler Balentine

Balentine appeared in 11 games on the mound for UB this year, starting in six games and finished with a 5-3 record and was second on the team in earned run average. His five wins were a team high and tied him for ninth best in a season in school history. One of his best outings came in a 5-2 win over Binghamton, when Balentine pitched a complete game four hitter in the 5-2 win. He also pitched a complete game shutout at Albany, scattering five hits over seven innings in the 15-0 win. Balentine picked up a win in relief against Canisius as well as two wins over Sacred Heart.

The Bulls finished the season with a 12-35 overall record for head coach Bill Breene. The program competed as a Division I Independent this past season, but will begin playing in the Mid-American Conference next year.