University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: April 22, 2004

Baseball

St. Bonaventure 8-3, UB 0-4
Ohio 8, UB 1
UB 4, Ohio 3 (10)
UB 4, Ohio 0

UB went 3-2 for the week, taking a doubleheader split at St. Bonaventure on April 21 and two of three games from MAC-rival Ohio over the weekend. The Bulls now are 10-24 overall and 3-8 in league play.

After dropping an 8-0 decision in game one against St. Bonaventure, the Bulls jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game two. David Amaro drove home Phil Vanhorne on a single and Joe Mihalics later crossed the plate following a wild pitch. UB added two more runs in the top of the third inning on a two-run single by Bryan Thrasher.

After getting on the board with a run in the bottom of fourth inning, the Bonnies made it interesting by scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cut the UB lead to 4-3. However, with the bases loaded and one out, Eric Kelly struck out the final two batters to end the threat and pick up the first save of his career. Chris McGraw allowed one run and struck out four over four innings to earn his first win of the season.

On Friday, Ohio starting pitcher Chris Bova held UB to one run on one hit as the Bobcats defeated the Bulls, 8-1. The Bulls' lone hit was a single by McGraw. UB scored its run in the top of the seventh inning when Mihalics scored on an RBI groundout by James Kingsley. It was Kingsley's team-best, 24th RBI of the year.

The Bulls scored two runs in the top of the 10th and held on to a one-run lead after the bottom half of the inning for a 4-3 win at Ohio on Saturday.

UB opened the scoring in the top of the first when Al Barbato scored on a groundout by Andrew Wengert. Barbato led off the game by reaching base on an error and moved to third on a double by Mihalics.

The Bobcats left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first but then tied the score in the second when Willie Walker hit a leadoff double, moved to third on a groundout by Bryant Witt and then scored on a groundout by Dusty Hammond.

UB left the bases loaded in the fourth inning before taking a 2-1 lead in the fifth on a two-out single by Kingsley that scored Wengert. Ohio, however, answered back with a run in the bottom of the inning. A double to left by Brian Colopy scored Hammond to tie the score once again.

The game remained tied after the ninth before the Bulls broke out with two runs in the top of the 10th. Amaro singled with one out and then advanced to third on a double by Vanhorne. A single by Thrasher scored Amaro, and a sacrifice fly by Brian Zelasko scored Vanhorne to give Buffalo a 4-2 lead. Ohio scored one run in the bottom of the 10th on a two-out sacrifice fly by Walker, but UB pitcher Mark Tourangeau got Witt to fly out to center field to end the game. Tourangeau pitched the final four innings of the game for the Bulls to earn the win, his second of the season. He allowed just three hits and one run and struck out two.

In Sunday's finale, McGraw and Sean McWilliams combined to shut out Ohio on five hits as the Bulls blanked the Bobcats, 4-0.

UB got on the board quickly as Mihalics smacked a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. The score remained 2-0 until the top of the seventh inning when a triple by Kingsley plated Mihalics and Wengert to give the Bulls a 4-0 lead.

The four runs would be more than enough for McGraw and McWilliams, who were stellar on the mound. McGraw allowed only four hits over seven innings. McWilliams allowed one hit over two innings and was credited with the save.

UB collected 12 hits on the afternoon, including three by Wengert and two apiece by Mihalics and Kingsley.

Softball

UB 1-1, Columbia 0-5
UB 9-10, Stony Brook 3-1
Western Michigan 2-1, UB 0-2
Western Michigan 4, UB 2

The Bulls split a non-conference doubleheader at Columbia on April 21 and swept a pair from Stony Brook on April 22 before returning home for a weekend series against Western Michigan. UB took the second of the three games from the Broncos and are now 18-21 overall and 6-8 in the MAC. UB's 18th win ties the mark for the most wins since moving to Division I.

At Columbia, the Bulls won game one, 1-0, and the Lions took game two, 5-1. In game one, UB hurler Stacey Evans continued to dominate the opposition by tossing a one-hit shutout. The Bulls scored the game-winning run in the top of the seventh inning when Julie Hibner singled home Breanne Nasti. Evans slammed the door on the Lions by pitching a 1-2-3 seventh inning, striking out nine en route to her ninth win of the season.

At Stony Brook, UB rolled to a convincing doubleheader sweep, 9-3 and 10-1. The Bulls had 24 hits on the day, including five by Nasti and four apiece by junior Ann Magur and freshman Mary Russell. Nasti had three home runs on the day, including a grand slam, and she drove in eight of the Bulls' 19 runs in the two games.

UB split Saturday's doubleheader at Nan Harvey Field against Western Michigan. The Bulls fell in the opener, 2-0 and took the second game in come-from-behind fashion by a 2-1 score.

In the first inning of the opener, the Broncos' Jaymie Voss hit a solo home run to left field to put the Broncos up, 1-0. The home run put an end to Evans' streak of 69.2 innings pitched without allowing an earned run. The Broncos extended their lead in the sixth inning when Amy Fleming drove in Mary McCloskey with a single up the middle.

In game two, the Broncos got on the board in the fourth inning when Fleming hit a solo home run to right center to put Western Michigan on top, 1-0. The Bulls had scoring threats in each of the first six innings but failed to send anyone across the plate, leaving 12 runners on base. The Bulls mounted a comeback with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning when pitcher Sophie Barstad hit her second home run of the season to left center to pull the Bulls into a 1-1 tie with the Broncos. Senior Jessica Labella reached on an error by the third baseman. Labella was replaced by pinch runner Colleen Greene. Round singled through the right side and advanced Greene to second. Shannon Prochaska then stepped to the plate and singled up the middle to drive in Greene with the winning run.

Nasti drew a walk in each of her four plate appearances in the second game and in seven of her eight plate appearances on the day. The four walks in game two set a UB single-game record. In the first game, she had tied the record with three walks. Nasti finished the day 0-for-1 with seven walks.

Barstad was the winning pitcher in game two, allowing just one run on seven hits and striking out five.

After more than a two-hour rain delay on Sunday, the Bulls and Broncos concluded their three-game series. Nasti hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to tie the score at 2-2 and force extra innings, but the Broncos took advantage of two Bulls' throwing errors in the eighth to score twice for the 4-2 final.

The game was tightly contested through the first four innings before the Broncos broke things open with two runs in the top of the fifth. McCloskey drew a two-out walk, stole second and then scored on a single to left by Kelly Barnett. Barnett advanced to second on the throw home and then scored on a high pop fly by Voss that dropped in shallow center field.

Barstad gave the Bulls some life in the bottom of the sixth when she led off with a double down the right field line. Western Michigan pitcher Laura Stewart then struck out the next two batters before junior Melissa Pace hit an infield single that moved Greene, pinch running, to third. Hibner then drove in Greene with a single to left.

After retiring the side in the top of the seventh, the Bulls tied the game at 2-2 when Nasti hit a leadoff home run to center field. Russell and Magur followed with back-to-back singles before Barstad hit into a double play that moved Russell to third. Stewart then got senior Marce Ross to foul out to the catcher to send the game to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Voss started things off with a single to short, and a sacrifice bunt by Fleming advanced her to second. Kristi Strange then hit a grounder to short, and Voss went all the way home when Picciano's threw to first was off the mark. Strange advanced to second and was replaced by pinch runner Corey Andrzejewski. After Evans struck out Katie Niemi for the second out of the inning, Stefanie Scheumann hit a grounder to third, and another UB throwing error allowed Andrzejewski to score to put the Broncos up by two. Evans then struck out Jenna Stuppy to end the inning.

The Bulls will host Marshall for a three-game series this weekend.

Outdoor Track and Field

Koeppel sets 5,000-meter record at Penn Relays

UB sent several of its men's and women's track-and- field athletes to the Penn Relays in Philadelphia. UB got some strong results against many of the nation's best athletes in preparation for the upcoming MAC Championships next month.

Jenny Koeppel made the biggest impact for the Bulls at the meet by adding her name to the UB record book. Koeppel broke a 10-year-old record in the 5,000-meter run when she finished in 16:52.83, good for sixth-place in a field of 40. The time broke Judith Novak's 1994 mark of 16:56.54 and qualified Koeppel for the NCAA Eastern Regional meet in Gainesville, Fla., next month.

The women's sprint medley relay team of Stacy Downer, Patrice Coney, Celestine Coney and Allison Laske turned in an impressive finish in its race, finishing sixth behind five of the nation's elite programs as 44 teams vied for the Championship of America. The Bulls turned in a 3:54.97 clocking, 13 seconds behind first-place Tennessee and only a quarter-second out of fifth. UB trailed only Tennessee, LSU, Ohio State, Stanford and North Carolina. Of those five programs, only Stanford did not race in the Bulls' heat.

Downer, Celestine Coney, Vashone Wallace and Laske helped the Bulls to the ECAC final of the 4x400 relay. The foursome took fifth in 3:47.66. UB qualified for the finals with an opening-day time of 3:47.49, fourth among the eight-team heat, with Wallace in the second spot in place of Coney and Jackie Cianfarano running the third leg. The 4x100 relay team of Dana Ventrone, Krystal Seiling, Charisse Everett and Downer placed third in a nine-team heat and 36th among 80 squads in a 47.78 clocking.

Other women's individual finishes included Sarah Vance taking ninth among 33 entrants in the Eastern Shot Put at 43-4.25 (13.21m). UB's other pole vaulter, Laura Olson, was eliminated from the championship section of the event with no mark as she was unable to clear the opening 11-9.75 (3.60m) height.

For the UB men, a pair of sophomore long jumpers highlighted the team's efforts. Reggie Rucker scored a third-place finish in the Eastern Long Jump with a distance of 23-9.50 (7.25m). Teammate Roy Richards took 12th in the 18-man field at 22-5.25 (6.84m). Brian Heim clocked a 53.87 in the 400-meter hurdles. His time was third in his six-man heat and 30th of 59 overall.

The Bulls also fielded three men's relay squads. The 4x100 foursome of Bryan Weinstein, Gary Asbach, Rucker and Richards turned in a 41.84 showing for seventh in a nine-team heat and was 38th among 92 overall entrants. Weinstein joined Tom Abbey, Todd Joki and Derrick Frenney in the 4x400 relay. The team was second of eight in its heat in 3:18.46 and finished in the middle of the pack at 53rd of 106 entrants. The 4x800 squad of Paul Riley, Dan McKenna, Rich Juszkiewicz and Chris McClure finished in 7:48.70 to place 11th of 14 in its heat and 23rd of 28 overall.

UB's multi-event athletes competed at the Hillsdale Gina Relays, with Steve Esler extending his school record in the decathlon to win the 10-event competition. Esler tallied 7,306 points, bettering the school-record 7,019 points he accumulated to win at the Florida Relays last month and bettering his NCAA provisional qualifying status. Esler won the high jump at 6-8.75 (2.05m) and the discus at 134-2 (40.90m) and tied for first in the pole vault at 13-11.50 (4.25m). His overall total was 375 points better than second-place Jake Freiss of Western Michigan.

Meanwhile, UB's Meagan Rogers placed second in the heptathlon at the meet. Rogers tallied a season-best 4,808 points to finish second to Central Michigan's Jackie Bozin (4,900). Rogers won the competition's final event, the 800-meter run, in 2:20.96 to close the margin between herself and Bozin from more than 250 points to 92. Rogers also finished second in the 100-meter hurdles (14.77), shot put (37-11, 11.56m) and javelin (112-6.50, 34.18m).

The Bulls will travel to Akron next weekend for the Al Campbell Invitational.

Tennis

WOMEN'S

Toledo 4, UB 2 (MAC Tournament)

UB was eliminated in the first round of the MAC Tournament on April 22 with a 4-2 loss to Toledo. The Bulls completed the season with an 8-11 overall record.

UB jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on the Rockets after capturing two of the three doubles matches. At number one, the UB duo of Miglena Nenova and Kristen Ortman downed Jen Meister and Viviana Rivero, 8-3. UB's number three team of Michelle Kollarova and Katrin Fischer knocked off Daniella Moran and Claire Smalley, 8-4.

In the number two match, UB's Lisa Wittman and Sheri Ugowski fell to Myriam Cueva and Eunice Paravicini, 8-0.

Kollarova recorded UB's lone singles victory with a straight-set win over Meister at number five. Kollarova won the first set, 6-2, and then took the second, 7-5, to give the Bulls their second point.

Toledo wrapped up the match with four singles victories, all in straight sets. At number two, Rivero defeated Ortman, 6-4, 6-4. At number three, Paravicini downed Fischer, 6-3, 6-1. At number four, Moran defeated Wittman, 6-2, 6-1. At number six, Smalley defeated Onessa Williams, 6-4, 6-1.

The number one match between UB's Nenova and Toledo's Cueva was stopped when Toledo scored the fourth point to clinch the victory. Cueva defeated Nenova, 6-4, in the first set, but Nenova was leading 4-1 in the second when play was halted.

Nenova was named the MAC's Newcomer of the Year and gained a spot on the All-MAC First Team. She is the first UB women's tennis player to earn MAC postseason recognition since the Bulls joined the league in 1998. Playing at first singles during the spring season after moving up from the second spot during the fall, Nenova compiled an 18-7 overall singles record, including a 5-4 mark in MAC play and recorded the most individual overall wins since the Bulls joined the MAC. Her 18 singles wins also were the most by a UB player since Amy Cohen compiled an 18-6 mark in the 1994-95 season.

In doubles, Nenova was 18-8 (2-7 in the MAC), compiling 17 wins with Ortman to form the Bulls' top duo.

MEN'S

UB 4, Toledo 1 (MAC Tournament)
Western Michigan 5, UB 0 (MAC Tournament)

UB scored its first-ever MAC Tournament victory with a 4-1 win over fifth-seed Toledo on April 22.

The Bulls opened the match by capturing two of the three doubles competitions to take a 1-0 lead. At first doubles, the UB duo of Randy Rocchio and Nick Zieziula breezed past Kahlid Al Nabhani and Travis Curran, 8-5. UB secured the point at second doubles as Albert Alant and Yules Hadisubroto knocked off Freddy Gomez and Cristobal Toral.

UB clinched the match with three singles victories, including Rocchio's 6-4, 7-5 win at number one over Al Nabhani. Mike Rockman and Hadisubroto also took singles matches. Rockman, at number three, downed Todd Wojtkowski, 6-3, 6-2. Hadisubroto, playing at number six, downed Brian Rager, 6-0, 6-1.

Since joining the MAC, the Bulls had been ousted in their first match of the last five league tournaments, including a 4-0 shutout loss to Toledo in last season's tourney opener.

A highly successful season came to an end on Friday with a 5-0 loss to No. 1-seeded Western Michigan in the tournament's semifinals. The Bulls lost the two completed doubles matches and the Broncos also took all four of the completed singles matches to claim the win. In the tournament, as soon as a team registers four or more team points, the match is called.

Despite the loss, the Bulls had their most successful season in six years in the MAC. Buffalo finished the season with a 9-12 overall record, claimed two regular season MAC wins-doubling its total from the previous five years-and captured its first ever MAC Tournament win.

Crew

Bulls, Eagles split inaugural Harvey Cup races

UB and Eastern Michigan University split the four races at Sunday's Harvey Cup with each squad taking two events. UB won the novice eight and second varsity eight races, while EMU took the varsity four and the Harvey Cup race, the first varsity eight event. Conditions on Tonawanda Creek at Amherst's Veterans Canal Park included a steady downpour during the final two races.

UB won the opening race of the session, the novice eight, in easy fashion. The Bulls' "A" boat crossed the finish line in 7:00.8, while Eastern Michigan was second in 7:20.1 and the UB "B" entry finished third in 7:35.0.

The teams then raced for the Harvey Cup in the first varsity eight competition. UB opened the race with a slight advantage, leading halfway through the 2,000-meter distance. However, Eastern Michigan was able to catch and pass the Bulls in the final 1,000-meters and win in 6:28.1 to UB's 6:35.0-about a boat-length.

Prior to the start of the second half of racing, a light rain turned into a heavier downpour. EMU then took the varsity four race by five seconds over the Bulls (7:57.2-8:02.1).

The Bulls squared the results with a victory in the final event of the morning, the second varsity eight, edging the Eagles by one second. UB finished in 7:00.2, while EMU clocked in at 7:01.9.

Two important championship events remain on the UB schedule. The Bulls will head for the New York State Championships in Whitney Point this weekend. The Metro Championships will be held on May 9 in Worcester, Mass.