The UB baseball team snapped a four-game losing streak and captured their 10th win of the season Wednesday as they outlasted cross-town rival Canisius 13-5 at the Amherst Pepsi Center Field.
UB was propelled by three separate multi-run innings, including a five-run fourth and seventh, to keep them safely ahead of the Golden Griffins throughout the entire game. With the win, their record improves to 10-17 while Canisius' record falls to 2-24.
"I was proud of them. We want to keep winning these games against the local rivals, and we're making headway," said UB Head Coach Bill Breene. "We won 11 total games last year, and today was our 10th win already and we have over 22 games remaining, so I'm pleased with the way it's going."
The Bulls were up 8-0 at the end of the fourth inning. Canisius put up a run in the fifth, and another two in the sixth to bring the score to 8-3 by the top of the seventh inning.
Canisius then began another rally with a John Cicero double. He advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Bulls relief pitcher Kyle Swiatocha walked two batters, to load the bases. Matt VanGenne hit a two-RBI single to bring the score to 8-5, and all of a sudden the Bulls found their eight-run lead reduced to three with the momentum now favoring the Griffs.
Buffalo's offense got the wake-up call they needed, scoring five more runs in the bottom of the inning to put the game away for good.
Fran Coudriet hit a bases-loaded double in the inning to score in Andrew Wengert, Joe Michaels, and Phil Van Horne after Buffalo scored two runs off bases-loaded walks to put the go up 13-5.
"Well, I finally got one," laughed Coudriet when asked about his big hit. "I got under [the pitch] a little bit, but it sailed nicely. [They were] my first RBIs so it felt good, I thought I had a chance."
Buffalo got the lead early, in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Brandon DiCesare, and a two-RBI double by Eric Huber to put UB ahead 3-0. Buffalo would never relinquish the lead during the game.
DiCesare and Huber struck again in the fourth inning to build on the Bulls early-inning lead. DiCesare hit a two-RBI double to bring in Wengert and Tim Sova. Huber, Bryan Sanchez and Michaels also posted RBI's in the inning for the Bulls.
Pitcher Mark McMahon earned the win for UB, to bring his record to 1-1. Ryan Topping took the loss for Canisius.
The Bulls will return to Mid-American Conference play this weekend when they travel to Ohio University for a four-game series starting on Friday.
"They beat us last year," said Coudriet. "We want to go back, and hopefully take four, but play our hardest, come out and hit, and I think we should be fine."
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
