Baseball team sweeps Akron

Over its past 15 games, the baseball team has traded-off on winning and losing streaks. The Bulls are currently enjoying a three-game winning streak, and with the final month of the season approaching, they can ill afford to begin a losing streak.

The Bulls (20-16, 11-6 Mid-American Conference) swept Akron (22-21, 9-9 MAC) in a three-game series this weekend at Amherst Audubon Field. Buffalo relied on dominant pitching in the first two games before garnering 11 runs in the final game on Sunday.

Senior pitcher and infielder Mike Burke struggled on the mound on Sunday, giving up six runs and seven hits in less than five innings. Buffalo trailed 6-5 heading into the bottom of seventh, before its offense emerged.

Senior infielder Mike Scarcello tied the game at six with a sacrifice fly to score freshman outfielder Vinny Mallaro. Buffalo took the lead when senior outfielder Jimmy Topps singled to center field to score Tanner Robinson. The Bulls added four more runs in the eighth inning to secure an 11-6 victory, completing the series sweep.

The Bulls opened the weekend with a 3-2 victory behind another dominant pitching performance by senior pitcher Kevin Hughes. Hughes pitched the entire game - his second complete game in a row - and gave up just six hits and one earned run. He also added five strikeouts.

Junior pitcher Anthony Magovney gave the Bulls another great pitching performance on Saturday, earning his first victory since March 22. Magovney gave up three runs in the top of third, putting the Bulls in a 3-2 deficit. Magovney gave up just three hits and no runs in the next four innings, however, and the Bulls offense recaptured the lead, resulting in a 6-3 victory.

Buffalo is a half-game behind MAC East-leading Kent State (27-16, 12-6 MAC). The Bulls play at Niagara (12-22, 5-8 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) for a doubleheader on Tuesday. They will face Ohio (8-31, 4-14 MAC) this weekend for a three-game series.

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