STAFF REPORTS
news@allwnynews.com
TOLEDO, Ohio — The University at Buffalo baseball team (10-22, 3-6 MAC) dropped their third straight on Sunday afternoon to the Toledo Rockets in the series finale at Scott Park by the score of 7-6. Chris Kwitzer led the way for the Bulls as he collected two hits and three RBI in the loss.
The Bulls were able to score the first run of the game for the third straight game on Sunday afternoon as Phillip Tomasulo collected a double and moved over to third base on a Ben Haefner sacrifice fly before coming around to score on Kwitzer’s RBI single up the middle.
The Rockets came back quickly in the bottom half of the first as they scored a pair of runs to take the 2-1 lead. Dalton Bollinger connected on the 2-run homer to give the home team the early lead.
After a scoreless second inning, UB was able to regain the lead in the third inning as they notched three runs to take the 4-2 advantage. Haefner opened the inning with a walk and Vinny Mallaro doubled to give UB two runners in scoring position. Kwitzer then stepped in and scored Haefner with a ground out to second before Kyle Brennan delivered the big blow, a 2-run home run to deep left field.
Brad Boss got the Rockets back within one run in the bottom of the third as he connected on a solo homer down the right field line.
Buffalo made it 5-3 in the fourth inning as Kwitzer delivered his third RBI of the game with a single to left field to plate Tomasulo from third base.
After a scoreless fifth inning, Toledo was able to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning as they scored a pair of runs. The runs came off of a Matt Hansen 2-run homer to deep right center field. The Rockets struck again in the bottom of the seventh with two more runs to take the 7-5 lead, this time courtesy of a 2-run home run off the bat of Michael Ryan.
UB threatened in the top of the eighth inning but they were only able to score a single run to make the score 7-6. Brian Dudek opened the inning with a walk before Connor Regan plated him with a double to left center field. Regan then moved over to third on a passed ball before Alex Thrower earned a walk to give UB runners on the corners with just one out. Unfortunately, the Bulls couldn’t score Regan from third as Tomasulo struck out and Haefner flied out to deep right center.
Brennan singled in the ninth inning but UB couldn’t cross the game-tying run across home plate as they fell on the road, 7-6.
Kwitzer continued to swing a hot bat for the Bulls as he went 2-for-5 with three RBI while Brennan finished off his afternoon going 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Regan collected a double and an RBI while Tomasulo went 1-for-5 with a team-best two runs scored in the loss.
On the mound, Brent Cleland went 6.0 innings while allowing five runs and striking out five batters.
The Bulls will return to the diamond on Tuesday afternoon as they head to Buffalo to take on Big 4 foe Canisius at the Demske Sports Complex at 3:00 pm.
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