The Dukes got on the board first in the opening inning as Adam Sisk connected on a 2-run home run down the right field line to give the home side the 2-0 lead after one inning. Buffalo responded with a homer of their own in the top half of the third inning as senior Brian Dudek connected on a solo shot, his second homer in as many days, to cut the Dukes lead to 2-1.
After James Madison made the score 4-1 in the bottom half of the third, the Bulls responded with three runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game. Alex Thrower singled down the first base line to score Dudek, Ben Haefner grounded out to score Phillip Tomasulo and Kyle Brennan singled to left field to score Vinny Mallaro from third.
The Dukes didn’t waste much time grabbing the lead back as they scored two runs in the fifth and then exploded for eight runs in the sixth to put the game away as they claimed the 14-4 lead through six.
Buffalo was able to get two runs back in the seventh inning to make the score 14-6 in favor of the Dukes as Mallaro opened the inning with a double and Brennan walked. Brian Wasilewski then dug in and drove in Mallaro and Brennan with a sharp single up the middle.
Dudek finished off his afternoon going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a home run and a RBI while Mallaro stayed hot at the dish, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Mallaro has now gone 12-for-23 over his last five games for the Bulls.
Kwitzer continued to swing a hot bat as he went 2-for-3 and his now batting .483 on the season while notching five multi-hit games on the season. Wasilewski finished his day going 1-for-3 with two RBI while Thrower, Haefner and Brennan each knocked in a run in the losing effort.
Freshman Greg Dunham pitched 1.1 innings while allowing no hits and striking out a pair before Chris Miranda pitched the eighth inning and struck out the side.
The Bulls and Dukes will return to the diamond on Sunday at 1:00 pm for the rubber match of the three-game series. Shawn Dubin will be on the mound for the Bulls.
