University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: April 19, 2007

Baseball

Niagara 6, UB 5
UB 5, Western Michigan 4 (12)
UB 3, Western Michigan 1
Western Michigan 7, UB 6

UB was unable to overcome four defensive errors as it fell to Niagara, 6-5, April 10 at Amherst Audubon Field. The Bulls attempted to come back with three runs in the bottom of the eighth, but fell just short.

The Bulls got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Bobby Pizzuto hit a one-out single and stole second base. Mike Folli followed up with a walk. After a UB out, sophomore Eric Flynn hit a two-out double to right field, scoring both runners.

From there, Niagara scored six unanswered runs until UB struck for three in the bottom of the eighth inning. With one out, Adam Skonieczki hit an infield single and scored after sophomore Chris Ciesla hit a two-out triple to the deepest part of the park in center field. Ultimately the Bulls loaded the bases with two outs and plated two runners as Brad Agustin reached on an error.

Sophomore Dan Francis got the start for UB and went 6.2 innings. Steve Geltz, who came on in relief in the seventh inning, allowed just one hit in 2.1 innings and struck out seven batters.

UB rallied past the Western Michigan Broncos, 5-4, in 12 innings under brisk and windy conditions Friday at Amherst Audubon Field. The win marked the Bulls' third Mid-American Conference victory of the season.

Folli provided the late-game heroics by driving in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning. Ciesla hammered two doubles of his own from the cleanup spot to lead the offensively minded Bulls, who recorded a season-high 18 hits.

Zach Anderson pitched five innings of three-hit relief to allow the Bulls to take the win. He had three strikeouts to complement UB's starting pitcher, senior Mike Radanovic, who recorded a season-best 12-strikeouts in seven innings.

UB picked up its second win of the weekend in Saturday's opening game of a doubleheader against Western Michigan, 3-1, before falling just short in the second game, 7-6, at Amherst Audobon Field. The successful weekend marks the first series win of the season for the Bulls, helping propel the team toward the middle of the Mid-American Conference standings midway through the 2007 season.

The Bulls, led by junior Nick Walczak's RBI double, posted three runs in the fourth inning to provide the immediate surge needed to take the first game. Augustin knocked in the team's other two runs with a single that tippytoed the left field line in the outfield.

That was all junior right-hander Mark Tourangeau needed, as he shut down the Bronco offense with six innings of four-hit ball. He struck out eight batters.

The Bulls rallied at the end of the second game, chipping away at the 6-2 deficit created in the fourth inning when WMU posted five runs on six hits.

Skonieczki decided to lead by example in the bottom half of the inning, leading off with a single right out of the gates. The true freshman scored later in the inning off a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to three. Leading off the inning once again, Skonieczki roped a single up the middle and eventually scored off a long single from Pizzuto. In the eighth inning, Skonieczki again landed on first base to kick start the UB batting order, finally scoring from third following a Flynn single into right field. With the RBI, the WMU lead was cut to one run, but the Bulls were unable to post any runs in the ninth.

Softball

Syracuse 6, UB 5
Ohio 15, UB 1
UB 5, Ohio 4
Akron 11, UB 0
Akron 12, UB 4

Despite scoring five runs over the last three innings, UB was narrowly upended in its home opener on April 11, falling to Syracuse, 6-5. Originally scheduled to play a non-league doubleheader, the Bulls and the Orange only were able to get in one game as low temperatures and gray skies nixed the nightcap.

After surrendering five runs in the top of the second, UB chipped away at the Orange, putting one on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman Samantha Gaetano kicked off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a Marcy Hansen hit up the middle. Liz Hauke then loaded the bases with a single of her own and senior Colleen Greene picked up an RBI, reaching on a fielder's choice to score Gaetano.

After Syracuse scored a run in the top half of the sixth, the Bulls scored two more in the bottom half of the inning. Erin Zilka led off the inning with a long single and moved over when freshman pitcher Sharon Barr drew a walk. Both runners then advanced on an infield groundout. Gaetano drew a walk to load the bases and Hansen followed, roping a long single to score both Zilka and Barr.

UB held the Orange scoreless in the top of the seventh and unleashed a late-game rally in the bottom of the inning. With one down, Lacy Schneider reached first on an error by the SU first baseman. Playing in her first UB softball game ever, newcomer Ashley Turner was inserted to pinch run for Schneider. Zilka kept the Bulls' chances alive, hitting a double to score Turner from first. Barr then singled to score Zilka. After a UB out, Barr reached third on a Jenna Beall-Schwab single. That was as close as the Bulls could get, though, as the final out came from the next batter.

Shorthanded this season due to five season-ending injuries, the Bulls

welcomed three new players to its roster, including Turner from the UB women's soccer team, Brandi Clark from the UB volleyball team and Beall-Schwab.

UB picked up its first MAC win of the season on Friday, defeating the Ohio Bobcats 5-4 in the second of two games on a chilly and blustery afternoon.

In that game, Barr went the distance on the mound for the Bulls, throwing a complete game and holding the potent Ohio offense to just four runs—three of them earned. Hansen had a superb game offensively, going 2-for-3 from the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.

After allowing one Ohio run in the top of the second, the Bulls used a big second inning to key their offense, scoring five runs in the bottom half of the inning. Zilka got the ball rolling with a hard single up the middle and advanced when Barr was hit by a pitch. Dana Carter then put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Zilka and Barr. Beall-Schwab followed with the first RBI of her career with a single to score Zilka.

Then, with one out and the corners loaded, freshman Jaime Sheffler doubled to send Barr home. After a UB out, Hansen stepped up and slapped a single to score Beall-Schwab. Greene continued UB's rally, getting on base thanks to an Ohio error and advancing on a poor Bobcat throw that would ultimately plate two more runs, leaving Greene at second and the score at 5-1.

Ohio kept things interesting, however, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the fifth and another in the top of the seventh. Heads-up defense kept UB in the contest, as the Bulls got out of a handful of bases-loaded jams while the Bobcats stranded nine runners in the 5-4 Buffalo victory.

In the day's first game, OU struck immediately, plating two in the top of the first. UB fought back, scoring one of its own in the bottom half.

The Bobcats' bats then erupted, taking the Bulls for 12 runs in the top of the third and one more in the fourth to make the final score 15-1, Ohio.

UB ran into a hot-swinging Akron squad on Saturday, falling in a doubleheader to the Zips. Akron took the first game, 11-0, and won the nightcap, 12-4, at Nan Harvey Field.

After allowing five runs in the top of the first in game two, UB fought back as Zilka hit a one-out double, plating Greene and Schneider. Barr was hit by a pitch and Zilka, and then Barr, both scored on a fielder's choice to give UB its final two runs of the inning.

The big blow for Akron came in the third inning as it scored seven runs in the frame. UB was unable to answer, recording just one hit after the first inning.

In the first game, Akron scored in each of the five innings, including a four-run fourth inning. The Bulls had a difficult time getting anything started, recording just three hits in the game.

Tennis

MEN'S

UB 4, Northern Illinois 3
UB 5, IPFW 2
UB 4, Marist 3

UB rallied to defeat MAC rival Northern Illinois, 4-3, on Friday at the Village Glen Tennis Center. The Bulls trailed the Huskies, 3-2, before taking the match with a pair of third-set victories.

In the number-two match, junior Nikesh Singh Panthlia dropped his opening set against Alex Friesen, 6-4, but came back to tie the match with a 6-1 win in the second set. In the deciding set, Singh Panthlia trailed 2-1 before winning the next five games and clinching the match. The final point of the match occurred when Friesen double-faulted, his final serve going into the net.

In the number-four match, senior Yules Hadisubroto also dropped the opening set, falling to Jimmy Chu, 6-2. Hadisubroto tied the match with a 6-2 win of his own in the second set. In the third set, Chu raced out to a 3-0 lead, but Hadisubroto stormed back to win the next six games and claim the 6-3 win and give the Bulls the overall victory.

Also claiming singles wins for the Bulls were senior Albert Alant at number five and sophomore Octavian Stane at number six. Both won their contests in straight sets.

On Saturday afternoon, the Bulls also dropped the opening doubles point, but rallied in singles play to score a victory, knocking off MAC foe Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, 5-2.

The Bulls scored five wins in the six singles matches to claim the contest. Singh Panthlia at number one, Mike Rockman at number two and Stane, at number six all scored 6-2, 6-2 straight-sets wins over their opponents.

With four singles wins, the Bulls scored a 4-3 victory over visiting Marist in the second match of a day-night doubleheader at the Village Glen Tennis Center. The Bulls have now posted four straight victories and improved to 8-11 overall.

Rockman scored his second singles win of the day by surviving the strong serving of Marist's Pedro Genovese and sending the Red Foxes' big hitter into several unforced errors. Rockman picked up his 17th win of the season and school record 83rd of his career with the 6-3, 6-1 decision in the number-one match.

Also picking up singles wins for the Bulls were Singh Panthlia, playing in the number-two slot, Hadisubroto at number four and Stane from the number-five spot.

The Bulls will travel to Toledo to face the Rockets on Sunday in their final match of the regular season.

WOMEN'S

UB 4, Toledo 3
UB 5, Eastern Michigan 2

UB scored a 4-3 victory over Toledo Friday afternoon to knock the Rockets from the ranks of the unbeaten in MAC play.

After winning the doubles point, UB scored three singles wins to claim the match. In the number-three match, junior Andreea Novaceanu scored a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Maha Guirguis. In the number-four match, senior Natalie Dean knocked off Nadia Zoubareva, 6-4, 6-0. Katrin Fischer, playing in the number-six slot, defeated Jessica Azoulay, 6-2, 7-5.

The Bulls kept a firm hold on second place in the MAC on Saturday with a 5-2 victory over Eastern Michigan. The Bulls are now 14-2 overall and 6-1 in the MAC, a half-game behind Western Michigan (6-0 MAC).

UB won the match with four singles wins in the six contests, including a pair of third-set comebacks. At number two, Denise Harijanto defeated Aditi Krishnan, 7-5, 6-2, while at number six, Fischer scored her seventh consecutive singles win with a 6-3, 7-5 decision over Laura Fernandez.

Both Smaranda Stan at number four and Tina Jacob at number five, fell behind early in their matches only to rally for third-set victories for the Bulls.

The Bulls return home for the regular season finale tomorrow when they host Northern Illinois at 1 p.m.

Outdoor Track and Field

Bulls finish third at Miami Invitational

After a three-week layoff, UB returned to competition on Saturday with third-place finishes for both the men's and women's squads at the Miami Invitational, hosted by MAC foe Miami University.

The UB women scored 91 points to finish behind host Miami with 199.50 points in the 14-squad field. The UB men picked up 106 points to finish behind Cincinnati (213) among the 11 men's teams at the meet.

The Bulls won seven events on the afternoon, with the UB women taking four field titles and the UB men winning two field events and one track title.

Headlining the winners for the Bulls was Sarah Vance with victories in the hammer throw and the shot put, as well as a second-place finish in the discus throw. Teammate Tina Villa took the discus throw, and finished second in the shot put.

Also winning for the UB women was Vanessa Roelofsen in the javelin throw.

For the UB men, Jake Madonia scored a first-place finish in the discus throw and a second-place nod in the shot put. Also picking up a victory was Rayshon Higgins in the triple jump and Todd Joki in the 110-meter hurdles.

The Bulls will host the UB Open on Saturday in UB Stadium. Field events will begin at 10 a.m., while track contests get under way at noon.

Football

Blue 51, White 32

UB played its annual spring football game on Saturday, with the Blue squad (offense) defeating the White squad (defense), 51-32, before a crowd of 1,014 in UB Stadium. Due to a smaller roster, it was not a true scrimmage, but predetermined situations where both the offense and defense were eligible to earn points.

Drew Willy looked sharp at quarterback for the Bulls. The junior-to-be went 19-for-26 for 155 yards and a touchdown. He completed 14 of his first 17 passes, including a 43-yard strike to Ernest Jackson and a five-yard touchtown pass to Robert Yealu.

Splitting time with Willy at quarterback was freshman Naaman Roosevelt. Roosevelt, who spent last season as one of the team's top wide receivers, looked comfortable behind center, finishing the day 6-for-12 for 87 yards. Four of his six completions were over 10 yards, including a 36-yard connection with Patrick Smith. Neither quarterback threw an interception.

The Bulls will open the 2007 season on Aug. 30 on the road against Rutgers.

Crew

Lightweight eight finishes fifth at Knecht Cup

UB participated in the Knecht Cup in Camden, N.J., on Saturday afternoon, sending one boat into the lightweight eight championship finals and two boats into the petite finals. The lightweight eight boat earned a fifth-place finish in the finals behind Wisconsin, Georgetown and two Harvard-Radcliffe boats. Originally scheduled as a two-day event, bad weather forecast for Sunday led to the entire regatta to be run on Saturday.

The Bulls return to action this weekend, traveling to Syracuse for a quad-meet with Colgate, Connecticut and Eastern Michigan. While in Syracuse, UB and Eastern Michigan's varsity eight squads will compete for the annual Harvey Cup.