Buffalo Bulls Baseball Splits a Double Header with Eastern Michigan

Game 1

Once again the Bulls managed a comfortable win in a Mid American Conference series opener. On the mound Alec Tuohy threw a solid 7.2 innings and the UB offense exploded as the Bulls took their series opener against Eastern Michigan by a score of 12-4.

UB jumped all over the Eagles early on as Vinny Mallaro hit a double which scored Bobby Sheppard and moved Mike Abrunzo to third base. A few batters later Andrew Taft brought in Abrunzo and Chris Kwitzer and Mallaros would score when Andrew Taft forced a throwing error several batters later.

Up 4-0 after the first inning UB had almost everything they would need.

UB got what would be the game winning run in the third. Vinny Mallaro had led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and then a Kwitzer pushed Mallaro in making the score 5-1.

In the top of the sixth EMU hit a solo shot which closed the score to 5-2 but the Bulls answered back with two runs in the home half of the inning. A Bobby Sheppard double scored Brian Kyle Brennen and moved Brian Dudek to 3rd base. Dudek scored on a passed ball in the next at bat.

The Bulls put the game out of reach in the 7th inning by tagging EMU relief pitcher Tony Dileo for three runs.

It started with a Mallaro single and a Kwitzer double which put the Bulls on second and third with no outs. Andrew Taft drilled a triple to center making the score 9-2. Kyle Brennan eventually hit into a double play which scored Taft.

EMU got a couple in the 8th but the bulls answered with a pair of thei own.

Sheppard got things going with a double to lead off the inning and Abrunzo drove him in on the next at bat with a single to center field. Mallaro and Kwitzer then hit back to back singles to move Abrunzo over to third and load the bases. Andrew Taft hit into a double play but Abrunzo managed to score.

At 12-4 all UB needed was for Logan Harasta to hold strong and the UB reliever put down EMU in three at bats to end the game.

Game 2

EMU put up a much better fight in the second game. The Eagle's starter, Augie Gallardo, kept UB off the board for more than six innings while the Eagles scored an unearned run on a wild pitch in the 2nd inning and a one run shot in the top of the fourth to build a precarious 2-0 lead.

Bobby Sheppard started the UB Rally in the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle. The next batter, Mike Abrunzo, hit a double to score Sheppard thus ending the shutout bid by Gallardo. Vinny Mallaro and Chris Kwitzer hit back to back singledin then next two at bats to score Abrunzo, tying the game. This also put the Bulls on first and second with no outs.

This chased Callardo from the game and the EMU bullpen made short work of the next two batters. But before the Eagles could extricate themselves from the inning a wild pitch allowed Mallaro to score the go ahead run.

Mike Kaelin came in to relieve Charlie Sobieraski, hoping to give his teammate the win. EMU though used a leadoff walk and then a single to tie the game.

Kaelin took care of the first two batters in the ninth but gave up a solo shot which put the Eagles up 4-3. Buffalo was unable to muster any offense in their half of the 9th, being put down in order, handing Kaelin the loss.