Bulls Lose Chilly MAC Opener at Eastern Michigan
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo (7-12, 0-1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
| Eastern Mich. (13-8, 1-0) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | X | 11 | 18 | 0 |
| @ Ypsilanti, Mich. | Oestrike Stadium | ||||||||||||
| Pitching |
|---|
| Win: WENDZICKI (1-2) - Eastern Mich. |
| Loss: Crumb (2-3) - Buffalo |
| Save: COMBS (1) - Eastern Mich. |
YPSILANTI, MI - In the 2011 Mid American Conference opener Friday afternoon, the Buffalo baseball team battled both Eastern Michigan and the elements, losing game one of the three-game weekend series 11-2 in a frigid affair. The Eagles scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth to earn the win.
The Buffalo offense, on a recent tear, was as cold as the weather on Friday, getting only eight hits in the game. Starting pitcher Kevin Crumb tossed six innings and gave up four runs, three earned. It was the bullpen that let the game slip late, as Eastern scored seven runs against the Buffalo relievers. It was not until the fifth inning and a 3-0 deficit that Buffalo finally cracked the scoreboard. Andrew Smietana drew a one out walk and scored on a Daniel Scahill double to right center field.
The second run came in the seventh inning thanks to yet another RBI double. Matt Pollock found his way on base thanks to a two-out walk, and Scahill converted with a hit to right field. That would be all in the way of scoring for the Bulls thanks to a strong start from Eagles senior Robert Wendzicki, who struck out eight over seven innings.
Scahill was the top performer offensively, batting 2-4 with the two RBI doubles. Third baseman River McWilliams also had two hits. Alex Baldock, fresh off of being named the MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week, hit his team-leading ninth double of the season in a 1-4 effort that dropped his season batting average to .419 (also a team high).
With the loss, Buffalo's five-game winning streak was cut short, moving the overall season record to 7-12 (0-1 MAC). Game two of the weekend series will begin tomorrow afternoon at 3 pm, with the team hoping to get its first conference win in the opening conference weekend.