MURRAY, Ky. – Behind a great start on the mound by junior Shawn Dubin, the University at Buffalo baseball team (3-3, 0-0 MAC) earned the series win over the Murray State Racers with an 11-4 win on Sunday. Dubin went 6.0 innings while allowing just two hits, no runs and striking out six as he hasn’t allowed an earn run through two starts this season.
“We got a great start on the mound from Shawn Dubin as he really kept a great hitting team off balance all day long,” stated head coach Ron Torgalski. “Offensively today was our best game of the season as 1-9 in the lineup had a great approach at the plate.”
After a scoreless first inning, the Bulls had a chance to score the first run of the game in the second inning but they weren’t able to get a timely hit. Vinny Mallaro opened the inning by earning a walk and Brian Wasilewski and Andrew Taft followed suit to load the bases full of Bulls. Brian Dudek then stepped in but grounded out to first base to end the threat.
Buffalo was finally able to break through with the first runs of the game in the top of the fourth inning as they struck for three runs. Chris Kwitzer started the inning reaching first on an error before Brennan singled to center and Wasilewski walked to load the bases. On the next pitch, the catcher couldn’t handle the ball in the dirt as Kwitzer crossed the plate on the wild pitch. Dudek then recorded a RBI as he reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Brennan from third. Freshman Phillip Tomasulo finished off the scoring for the Bulls with a RBI single through the left side to score Wasilewski.
Shawn Dubin was able to strikeout the side in the bottom of the fourth and the Bulls added two more runs in the fifth to give UB the 5-0 lead. Ben Haefner and Mallaro started the inning with back-to-back singles before Kwitzer grounded into a fielder’s choice to give UB runners on the corners with one out. Haefner then scampered across home plate on the wild pitch and a Brennan single to center field scored Kwitzer from second base.
After a scoreless sixth, Buffalo blew open the game in the seventh inning as they score five runs in the inning. Brennan started the scoring with a RBI ground out to short that scored Mallaro before Dudek drilled a deep double to left center to score Andrew Taft and Kwitzer. Dudek then scored on an error and Alex Thrower singled to right to score Wasilewski and give UB the 10-0 lead.
The Bulls made it 11-0 in the eighth inning as the Racers walked the bases loaded and Mallaro scored on a wild pitch in the dirt.
Murray State finally broke through with runs in the bottom half of the eighth inning as they struck for four runs. The Racers got a 2-RBI triple to deep right center field before Cameron Hicks connected on a 2-run homer to deep left field, making the score 11-4 in favor of the Bulls.
Buffalo closer Logan Harasta entered the game in the ninth inning and closed the door on the Racers as he forced a ground out, a pop out and a strike out as he helped secure the Bulls third win of the season.
Dubin continued her strong start to the season on the mound as he went 6.0 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits, two walks and struck out a season-high six batters. The junior hasn’t allowed an earned run so far this season as he has pitched 10 innings while allowing nine hits and striking out nine batters.
At the dish, Dudek tied a career-high with three RBI as he went 1-for-5 with a double and a run scored in the win. The senior is batting .350 through the first six games of the season with five RBI, all coming in the last two games. Mallaro stayed hot for UB as he finished off his afternoon going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. The senior finished off his strong weekend going 7-for-14 with four runs, two doubles and a RBI.
Brennan had a solid game on Sunday as he went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a run scored and a walk while Thrower and Tomasulo each chipped in a hit and RBI in the win. All nine UB starters reached base while eight collected at least one hit in the rubber game victory over the Racers.
The Bulls will return to the diamond on Friday afternoon as they head to James Madison. UB and James Madison will kick off the three-game series on Friday at 3:00 pm. Senior Alec Tuohy (2-0) will get the start for the Bulls.
from UBBulls.com via IFTTT
