STAFF REPORTS
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HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The University at Buffalo baseball team (5-13, 0-0 MAC) snapped their 10-game losing streak on Thursday night on the road at Sam Houston State as they downed the Bearkats 5-3. Senior right-handed pitcher Alec Tuohy collected his fourth win of the season as he struck out a season-high nine batters in the victory.
After the Bulls went 1-2-3 in the first inning, the Bearkats struck for the first run of the game in the bottom of the first as Clayton Harp doubled to right center and Andrew Fregia brought him around to score on a single to left field to give the home team the 1-0 lead.
Finally in the fourth inning, the Bull were able to break through for three runs to take the lead. With two outs and runners on first and second, Phillip Tomasulo singled to left field to score Jeff Palczewski from second. Alex Thrower then notched a single to right field to score Ben Vey and Ben Haefner earned a walk to score Tomasulo from third to make the score 3-1 in favor of the Bulls.
The Bearkats got a run back in the bottom of the fifth inning as Harp grounded out and Riley McKnight scored from third base on the fielder’s choice.
Buffalo starter Alec Tuohy then pitched a pair of 1-2-3 innings to preserve the UB 3-2 lead into the eighth inning. After a pitching change by the Bearkats, the Bulls notched two runs to take the dominant 5-2 lead. Thrower earned a walk to plate Palczewski from third before Andrew Taft scored on a wild pitch to give the Bulls the three-run lead.
Tuohy then pitched a masterful eighth inning as he struck out the first batter, earned a ground out and after a walk, ended the inning with another ground out to send the game to the ninth with UB leading 5-2.
After a 1-2-3 inning by the Bulls, the Bearkats were able to plate just one run on UB closer Logan Harasta to make it 5-3 before he induced a line out to first base to end the bases loaded threat and earn the Bulls fifth win of the season and his third save.
Tuohy finished off his team-leading fourth win of the season going 8.0 innings while allowing seven hits, three runs, three walks and striking out a season-best nine batters. Harasta closed out his third save of the season striking out one batter in an inning of work.
Thrower closed out his game going 1-for-4 at the plate with a team-best two RBI while senior Kyle Brennan extended his career-long hitting streak to 16 games as he went 2-for-4 at the dish. Tomasulo went 1-for-3 with a run and a RBI while Palczewski finished off his night going 1-for-3 with a team-best two runs. Haefner earned a pair of walks in the win, extending his career-best reaching base streak to 18 straight games.
The Bulls and Bearkats will collide in the second game of their three-game set on Friday at 12:00 pm. Buffalo will send junior Charlie Sobieraski to the mound.
