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Sports Recap
Chris Ciesla of the baseball team hit .533 (8-of-15) in four games, including 4-of-5 in UB's 9-3 victory at Toledo.
Denise Harijanto of the women's tennis team helped the Bulls to a 7-0 victory over Mid-American Conference rival Akron on Friday and allowed just two games against her.
Baseball
Canisius 11, UB 5
Toledo 12, UB 2
UB 9, Toledo 3
Toledo 5, UB 4
The baseball team began to display its power, but was unable to defeat Canisius, falling 11-5 to the Golden Griffins, Wednesday afternoon at the Demske Sport Complex.
After only hitting one home run through their first 21 games, the Bulls used the long ball often against the Golden Griffins. Sophomore Chris Ciesla hit two home runs, accounting for UB_s first two runs of the game. After Ciesla crossed the plate again in the sixth, junior Rick Oliveri hit a two-run shot to left field, pulling UB within one.
The Golden Griffins responded by scoring five unanswered runs, including four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. UB tried to put together one last threat in the top of the ninth inning by loading the bases with nobody out. However, UB would get no closer as the next three batters all made outs.
Ciesla led the way for UB, going 3-for-3 on the afternoon. Ciesla also saw action on the mound, pitching three innings. Junior Nick Walczak went 3-for-4 in the game with a double and a run scored. The Bulls were able to record 12 hits, including two from Oliveri, who finished with two runs batted in.
The Bulls opened their MAC series at Toledo on Friday, falling to the Rockets, 12-2, in Scott Park.
The Rockets did not allow the cold weather conditions to stop them as they put up four runs in the bottom of the first, taking a lead they would hold on to throughout the contest. After a scoreless second inning, the Rockets added two more runs in the bottom of the third and another two in the fourth.
The Bulls got themselves on the board in the top of the sixth inning as junior E.J. Folli reached on a walk. He advanced to second on a walk to Eric Flynn and then moved to third on a passed ball. Folli would score on a ground out by Ciesla. However, Toledo answered by scoring another two runs in the bottom of the frame.
After Toledo added single runs in the seventh and eighth, the Bulls got on the board one more time in the ninth. Flynn hit a one-out single to center field and was driven in by Walczak with a pinch-hit double down the right field line.
Senior Adam Ruszkowski picked up the loss, going just three innings and allowing seven hits and six runs. Ruszkowski also walked one and struck out one. The walk allowed was just his second of the season. Offensively the Bulls managed just three hits on the afternoon, two of those coming in the ninth inning.
On Saturday, the Bulls used solid starting pitching and a 12-hit performance to defeat the host Rockets, 9-3.
The Bulls got ahead with a four-run second inning as senior Mike Radanovic gave UB seven solid innings, allowing just one run, for his first victory of the season.
Ciesla began the inning with a double to right center and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Walczak was hit by a pitch, junior Tony Fuller singled down the left field line to drive in Ciesla and move Walczak to second. Freshman Bobby Pizzuto then singled up the middle to drive in Walczak. The Bulls would get their final two runs of the inning when freshman Shivam Bhan doubled to left center, scoring Pizzuto and Fuller.
Toledo picked up one run in the bottom of the second, but that was all Radanovic would allow, striking out seven batters in his seven innings of work. In the top of the seventh, UB added three more runs, putting together a rally with two outs. Flynn hit a two-out double to right center and scored as Ciesla hit his second double of the game. Walczak was again hit by a pitch and both runners advanced on a passed ball. Fuller then doubled to center field, driving in both runs.
Sophomore Zach Anderson came in to pitch the final two innings and struck out three batters during his appearance. Anderson did allow two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but UB answered in the top of the ninth with two runs.
The four through seven hitters for UB went a combined 10-for-18 in the game, helping UB to its first conference road victory. Ciesla went 4-for-5 on the afternoon, while Walczak scored three times for the Bulls. Fuller and Pizzuto each had three RBIs on the day, while Bhan added two.
The Bulls dropped the final game of the series with Toledo as the Rockets walked off on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning to win, 5-4, Sunday. The loss drops UB drops to 3-22 on the season and 2-7 in conference play.
The game started two hours late to accommodate the weather in the Toledo area, with Toledo gettingtwo runs in the bottom of the first. The Rockets added one more run in the bottom of the third to take a three-run advantage.
The Bulls then struck with three runs of their own in the top of the sixth to tie the game up. Junior Mike Folli hit a one-out single through the left side and after an out, advanced to second on a walk by Flynn. Folli and Flynn then executed a double steal, each moving up 90 feet. Both runners then scored on a single to left center by Ciesla. Ciesla would then score on a double through the right side from Walczak tying the game at 3-3.
Toledo regained the lead in the bottom of the frame with one run before UB tied up the contest again in the top of the seventh. E.J. Folli singled through the left side, driving in Adam Skonieczki, who pinch ran for Oliveri who singled earlier in the inning.
The two teams remained tied until the ninth inning when Toledo hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on a UB throwing error. After back-to-back intentional walks, the Rockets used a sacrifice fly for the victory.
Mike Folli and Bhan each had two hits in the game and seven different UB players recorded hits. Junior Mark Tourangeau got the start for UB and picked up a no decision, going six innings, while striking out four. Steve Geltz came on in relief and picked up the loss, his second of the season.
Softball
Softball Contests Wiped Out by Weather
Due to snow, the softball contests for the week were cancelled.
Earlier in the week, UB's Lacy Schneider was named MAC East Player of the Week. Schneider, a junior infielder, finishing a combined 6-of-12 in doubleheaders against Toledo and Bowling Green in the Bulls' first weekend of MAC competition. Additionally, Schneider accumulated four runs batted in and posted two extra-base hits, a double and a home run.
For the season, Schneider leads the club in batting average at .284 and home runs with four and is tied for the top spot with 14 RBIs.
Tennis
WOMEN'S
UB 7, Akron 0
The women's tennis team got back into the win column on Friday with a 7-0 sweep of Mid-American Conference foe Akron in the Village Glen Tennis Center.
The Bulls got things rolling with three doubles wins, including a pair of shutouts, to clinch the opening point. UB's number one tandem of Andreea Novaceanu and Denise Harijanto blanked Tanya Gombera and Amy Sherlock, 8-0. The number three team of Tina Jacob and Katrin Fischer also scored an 8-0 win over Alyssa Carlson and Aude Percherin.
Buffalo rolled to the victory taking all six singles matches without dropping a set or being forced into a tiebreaker. Highlighting the run was Fischer, who scored the clinching victory in the No. 6 match with a 6-1, 6-0 decision over Laura Hemlepp. Harijanto and Natalie Dean each allowed just two games against them in their wins.
Outdoor Track and Field
Ohio Bobcat Invitational Cancelled Due to Weather
Saturday's blast of late season winter weather forced the cancellation of the Ohio Bobcat Invitational. The meet will not be rescheduled.