Playing five games in three days is tough, but the University at Buffalo baseball team (9-10) was able to take four of them over the long weekend: one against the University of Maryland Baltimore County Retrievers (4-10) and three more in a sweep of the Navy Midshipmen (3-15-1).
Friday
On Friday, the Bulls split a doubleheader with UMBC on their home turf at Baseball Factory Field, winning the opener by the score of 8-5, and losing the nightcap 5-3, despite two home runs by UB shortstop Joe Mihalics.
Buffalo was able to get its offense rolling early in the first game, as back-to-back doubles by Mihalics and junior first baseman James Kingsley opened up a 1-0 lead. Kingsley was then singled home by sophomore catcher Dan Quinn to stretch the margin to 2-0.
The double, number four on the season for Kingsley and the 28th of his career, moved him into fourth place on the UB all-time doubles list.
"(Kingsley) plays hurt, plays hard, and he leads by example. He's our only leader who's an underclassman - that just shows what he means to us," said UB head coach Bill Breene. "He's the kind of guy coaches wish they had a half a dozen of on the team."
Sophomore pitcher Matt Johnson (2-1) used this early offense to help keep the Retrievers in check, as he hurled his second consecutive complete game, allowing only eight hits and five runs - only three of which were earned - while striking out one over the full seven innings.
Buffalo was able to give Johnson more of a cushion in the fifth inning, when they batted around, sending 11 players to the plate. After the first three Bulls, Kingsley, Dave Amaro and Quinn, drew walks, senior right fielder Andrew Wengert laced a single to center field, driving in two runs. Phil Vanhorne was able to drive in two more with a single, following a sacrifice bunt and a walk.
Mihalics then came up to the plate and drew a walk, which put him on and advanced Vanhorne to second. Kingsley swatted an infield single in the direction of the Retriever shortstop, who threw the ball away, allowing E.J. Folli and Vanhorne to score the final runs of the inning.
UMBC was able to bounce back in the bottom half of the inning, when they scored all five of their runs. However, able to get through that, Johnson held the retrievers down for the final two innings.
"He had a rough start the first time he was out in Kentucky, and he's had three good outings since that," said Breene. "He threw well today, had a rough fifth inning, but was able to come back in the sixth and seventh and was able to get the win."
Buffalo did not fare as well in the second game despite a 3-for-4 game from Mihalics. His first-inning homer gave the Bulls an early 1-0 lead, but a four-spot by UMBC off of UB starter Matt Francavillo (0-3), capped off by a three-run blast by the Retrievers' freshman infielder Mark Lemon, was all the offense they would need.
After getting a comfortable 4-1 lead, UMBC starter Jon Pavlis (1-1) went the distance. He allowed eight hits and two walks, striking out four, but was able to strand six Bulls on base in the game.
Mihalics pulled his second home run, a two-run shot over the left-field fence in the fifth inning to draw the Bulls within one, but the Retrievers answered back in the bottom half of the inning, as Kyle Wildasin swatted his first homer of the year.
Saturday
UB swept the twin-billing over the Midshipmen, winning the opener by the score of 7-2, and the second game 2-0 behind masterful pitching performances by Adam Ruszkowski and Mark Tourangeau.
"When you're getting a couple of complete games in such a busy weekend, it's important to have some complete games to keep our arms fresh," said Breene. "It's good to see our guys pitching well."
UB was able to score all they would need for the first game in the first inning. Batting leadoff once again, Vanhorne pulled a single to left, stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Navy catcher. He then scored on a groundout by Mihalics.
For UB, Ruszkowski (3-1) walked a tightrope all day, as he worked himself in and out of trouble; however, in his six innings, he was able to strand seven Midshipmen on base, while allowing two runs, one of which was earned. He didn't allow a walk, and he notched two strikeouts.
"He's earned the rights to pitch on the weekends for us - he's just a kid who works hard at his game, who focuses on trying to work ahead," said Breene.
The second game of the double-header was a pitcher's duel, but it was won by Tourangeau (1-1), who stretched his scoreless innings streak to 12 by tossing a complete game. Tourangeau, the MAC East Pitcher of the Week, yielded only three hits and two walks, and was able to strike out eight Midshipmen as he took the team lead in strikeouts with 16.
"Tourangeau was in total command, one through seven. He was able to get big strikeouts with runners on base, and he was able to keep the ball on the ground," said Breene.
The rubber-armed pitcher was able to keep the Navy hitters in check until Buffalo was able to score - once in the second inning off an RBI single by John Boom, scoring Wengert, and once in the seventh inning off a sacrifice fly by Boom, scoring Al Barbato.
"You're not going to be able to score a lot of runs all the time," said Breene. "We were nursing a one-run lead, but if you want to win close games at our level, you have to do the little things right, bunting, sacrifices, stuff that won't be in the box score."
Sunday
As its string of solid pitching and defensive miscues in UB's favor (twelve in the series committed by the Midshipmen) continued through Sunday, the Bulls were able to complete their sweep of Navy by a score of 8-0.
Bulls' starting pitcher Chris McGraw and reliever Sean McWilliams combined for a seven-hit, seven-strikeout performance against the Midshipmen.
The Bulls scored all they would need with two outs in the third inning, as Mihalics tapped a bunt for a single, Kingsley reached on an error, and Amaro punched an RBI single to center, scoring Mihalics. Quinn singled to right to load up the bases and was followed up by a bases-loaded walk by Andy Wengert, scoring Kingsley.
"(Quinn) keeps his swing short and compact, and when he's patient, he can hit it as hard as anyone we play against," said Breene. "He's a good middle-of-the-order hitter we'll be relying on this year.
In the fourth inning, Kingsley pulled his seventh double of the season down the left-field line to follow a leadoff single by Vanhorne and an error that allowed Mihalics to get on base.
Buffalo had a big sixth inning, scoring four more runs, taking advantage of two wild pitches and another Navy error.
The Bulls hope to continue their hot streak as they open up their MAC schedule on Friday, April 1, looking to beat the Akron Zips (8-12) in Ohio.
Buffalo will play its first home game on the friendly grass of Amherst Audubon Field on April 20, as they kick off their home schedule in a doubleheader against St. Bonaventure at 1 p.m.
