UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO ATHLETICS
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY – The University at Buffalo baseball team (16-28, 8-10 MAC) wasn’t able to score with Big 4 foe Niagara on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action as they fell 22-15 at Bobo Field. Senior Kyle Brennan had himself a career day in the loss as he finished 3-for-4 with a career-high two home runs, seven RBI, two runs and two walks.
Brennan connected on a grand slam in the first inning and followed that up with a 3-run homer in the second, setting the program record for RBI through two innings with seven. The two homer game marked the first of his UB career and the seven RBI were also a career-best.
The Buffalo offense wasted no time getting to work on Tuesday afternoon as they were able to notch five first inning runs to race out to the 5-0 lead. Brian Dudek led off the inning with a single to center field before three of the next four batters each earned walks, Ben Haefner, Vinny Mallaro and Chris Kwitzer. Kwitzer picked up an RBI on his walk as Dudek came around to score. Senior Kyle Brennan then stepped in and delivered the big blow, a grand slam, which cleared the bases for the Bulls. The grand slam was the first of Brennan’s career.
Niagara responded in the bottom half of the first to make the score 5-2 in favor of the Bulls as Bobby Langlois knocked in two runs with a double to deep left field.
The Bulls added three more runs in the top of the second inning to take the 8-2 lead as Haefner led off the inning with a single and Mallaro was hit by a pitch. Brennan then stepped in again and this time delivered a three-run homer, his first career multi-home run game for the Bulls. The seven RBI through two innings are the most in program history for the Bulls.
The Purple Eagles responded quickly once again in the bottom of the second inning as they scored three runs. The first run came on a Tanner Kirwer RBI single before Greg Cullen picked up an RBI on a fielder’s choice and Darian Blanks scored on a passed ball to make the score 8-5 in favor of the Bulls.
UB didn’t let up offensively in the third inning as Dudek connected on his third home run of the season, a two-run shot, which plated Eddie Edwards III. Brian Wasilewski then collected an RBI to give UB the 11-5 lead as he forced an error by the Niagara third baseman to score Phillip Tomasulo from third.
The Purple Eagles were able to get back into the game in the bottom half of the third as they plated six runs to tie the game, 11-11. Niagara scored on a sacrifice fly, two RBI singles and two RBI doubles in the inning.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Purple Eagles took control of the game as they plated six runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the commanding 17-11 advantage. Niagara was able to notch four hits in the inning as four of the six runs were unearned runs.
UB answered with two runs in the top of the sixth inning thanks to a Kwitzer double to deep left field that scored Dudek and Mallaro to make the score 17-13 in favor of the home team.
Niagara was able to put the game away in the seventh inning as they posted five more runs to take the 22-13 edge over the Bulls. In the top of the ninth, Edwards III got a pitch he could handle and he deposited it over the wall, a 2-run shot that scored Connor Regan. The homer was the first of Edwards III career for the Bulls.
The Buffalo offense had a great day at the plate as they were able to combine for 14 hits including a season-best four home runs. Brennan was the story of the day for the Bulls as he went 3-for-4 with two home runs, seven RBI, two runs and two walks. Kwitzer continued to swing a hot bat for the Bulls as he finished off his day going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored while Dudek finished off his afternoon going 3-for-5 with three runs, two RBI and two walks.
Edwards III connected on his first career homer and finished his day going 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored in the loss. Wasilewski was able to go 1-for-5 with a RBI while Mallaro earned three walks and scored three runs in the defeat.
The Bulls will return home on Friday afternoon as they welcome the Ohio Bobcats to Amherst Audobon Field for a crucial MAC game. Friday’s game will start at 3:00 pm as Charlie Sobieraski will take the mound for Buffalo.
