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The Bulls visited Athens hoping to once again get their conference record back over .500 against the Bobcats. Behind a fantastic outing by Junior Alec Tuohy UB cruised to a 9-3 victory which brings Bulls to a 10-15 record with a 4-3 conference record.
While Tuohy collected his conference leading 5th win the initial firewoks came at the plate, in the first inning. Alex Thrower collected a lead off walk and then Bobby Sheppard led off the game by reaching base on an Ohio error and two batters later Mike Abrunzo hit a double to deep right center field to score Thrower and Sheppard and give the Bulls the early 2-0 lead.
UB extended their lead in the third inning. Once again it was Thrower who got things going by drawing a walk, he then move to second on a failed pick-off attempt by Ohio. Chris Kwitzer then singled to center to give UB runners on the corners and then Vinny Mallaro singled to score Thrower. Andrew Taft completed the 3rd inning scoring b driving in Kwitzer and Mallaro with a single.
A 5-0 lead was more than UB needed on the day but the Bulls kept piling it on.
In the UB half of the 4th Kyle Brennan opened the inning with a double. Brian Dudek moved Brennan to 3rd with a sacrifice bunt and Thrower pushed in the run with a single to the left side. After Sheppard singled to give UB runners on first and second, Vinny Mallaro brought in Thrower.
Ohio finally got on the board in the 5th, but Tuohy kept the damage minimal. Just a single run kept UB's lead at 7-1.
Logan Harasta came in for the 8th and ninth innings. The Bobcats managed to score a pair off the reliever but UB batters got those runs back in the top of the 9th. Mallaro took a pitch inside to get on base and then Ben Haefner earned a walk. Brennan drove in the paid with a double to finish the scoring.
You can't say enough about what Tuohy has done this season. He has improved to 5-2 on the year and a 3-0 record in conference play. His 2.96 ERA is a huge factor in UB's competitive season as he anchors the weekend lineup during conference play.