Archives
Sports Recap
Reggie Rucker of the men's track-and-field team won two Mid-American Conference titles in his hurdles events, breaking his own UB records in both and setting a Miami track record in one.
Vanessa Roelofsen of the women's track-and-field team won her first MAC title in the javelin after placing second in the event each of the past two seasons.
Baseball
UB 2, Bowling Green 1
Bowling
Green 9, UB 7
UB 14, Bowling Green 3
UB scored two runs in the ninth inning to erase a one-run deficit and walk away with a 2-1 victory Friday afternoon to open a three-game series at Bowling Green.
The two teams were caught in a pitcher's duel for most of the afternoon as UB starter Mike Radanovic kept the BGSU offense off the board until allowing a run in the seventh inning. UB escaped further trouble when Zach Anderson came on and pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief as UB entered the ninth inning down by one run.
With one out, UB scored two runs to take the lead. Chris Ciesla hit a single into right field and was replaced with pinch runner E.J. Folli. After back-to-back walks to Eric Flynn and pinch hitter Tony Fuller, the Bulls had the bases loaded for freshman Shivam Bhan, who hit a slow roller to third base that the Bowling Green defense was unable to handle. The Falcon third baseman rushed his throw to the plate past the catcher, scoring Folli and Flynn.
Trailing 9-2 going into the ninth inning, the Bulls put up five runs in the inning, but were unable to get any closer, falling to Bowling Green, 9-7, Saturday afternoon.
Bowling Green got on the board first with three runs in the third inning, but the Bulls fought back by scoring two runs in the fourth inning on singles by junior Rick Oliveri and freshman Adam Skonieczki.
Bowling Green came back with one run in the fourth and extended its lead with four runs in the seventh and another in the eighth that made the score 9-2 going into the ninth inning.
With one out, Charlie Karstedt hit an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. After a foul out, Mike Folli hit a single, which moved Karstedt to third. Karstedt scored on a Bobby Pizzuto single through the left side, extending his hitting streak to 14 games. Chris Ciesla then singled up the middle, loading the bases. Junior Nick Walczak kept the inning alive as he singled through the right side, driving in two runs. Flynn doubled in two more runs as he hit a shot to left center. The Bulls then put runners on first and second, but were unable to score any more runs.
In the finale, UB batted around the order in the third and fifth innings, scoring 12 unanswered runs en route to a 14-3 victory over Bowling Green, Sunday afternoon. The Bulls are now 15-31 on the season and 11-13 in MAC play.
Bowling Green scored two runs in the first inning, but the Bulls got one back in the top of the second when Oliveri drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. The Bulls looked for more in the top half of the frame, but Brad Agustin was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
The Bulls responded by putting up six runs in the third inning as they batted around the order to take the lead. Flynn drove in a run with a single through the left side and Walczak walked to load the bases for UB with one out. Agustin hit an RBI single to right field. Oliveri then drew the first of two bases-loaded walks on the day. Skonieczki then drove in two runs with a single to right field. The BGSU right fielder was unable to play the ball as it rolled all the way to the fence, scoring another UB run as Skonieczki reached third on the play.
The Bulls added another five runs in the fifth inning. Walczak, leading off, was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on an Agustin single to right field. UB loaded the bases and Oliveri drove in a run with a walk. Skonieczki drove in another run as he grounded out. Mike Folli walked to load the bases again. Pizzuto walked to drive in a run and Ciesla drove in two runs with a single up the middle.
The Falcons scored a run in the bottom of the inning, but the Bulls added two more in the eighth inning when Ciesla hit a two-out single into center field, which drove in Skonieczki from second base. Flynn drove in Folli with a single to left center for UB's 14th run of the afternoon.
The Bulls are at Kent State today for the final series of the season. Currently sitting in seventh place in the MAC, UB is looking to make its first-ever trip to the MAC Tournament.
Outdoor Track and Field
Bulls win five titles at MAC Championships
UB had a successful run in the MAC Championships at Miami University's George L. Rider Track last weekend, claiming a total of five individual MAC titles—three for the men and two for the women. Both the men's and women's squads finished fifth in their respective meets.
Reggie Rucker broke both UB hurdles records on Saturday and set a Rider Track record in one of the events on his way to winning the 110-meter and 400-meter events. In the 110-meter hurdles, Rucker won in 14.05 seconds, breaking his UB record by two-tenths of a second and lowering his NCAA East Regional qualifying mark. He completed the sweep with a victory in the 400-meter hurdles, setting a new Miami facility mark of 50.75 and lowering his UB record by more than six-tenths of a second. Rucker's 400-meter hurdles victory is the third by a Bull in the last four MAC Championships. Brian Heim won the MAC 400-meter hurdles crown in 2004 and 2006.
Rayshon Higgins took his second-straight outdoor triple-jump title and third MAC victory in the event with his winning leap of 50-10.25 (15.50m). Higgins was the only entrant to soar past the 50-foot distance, out leaping second-place finisher Cadeau Kelly of Akron by 13.75 inches. Higgins, who won the MAC indoor triple jump title in March, improved on his regional qualifying mark by more than a foot and a half.
Patrice Coney earned her first outdoor MAC title and completed a sweep of the indoor and outdoor multi-event titles with her victory in the women's heptathlon on Friday. Coney became the first UB woman to score more than 5,000 points in the competition, setting the school record in the process. Coney scored a total of 5,116 points in the seven-event competition to win the title by nearly 300 points over Western Michigan's Danielle Brown. Coney won the MAC title in the pentathlon in March's indoor championships.
After two second-place finishes in 2005 and 2006, Vanessa Roelofsen earned her first MAC title with her victory in the women's javelin. Roelofsen won the competition with a throw of 147-9 (45.03m).
Several of UB's top competitors will return to action May 25 and 26 at the NCAA East Regional Championships in Gainesville, Fla.
Crew
Second varsity eight leads Bulls at Dad Vail Regatta
UB completed its 2006-07 season Saturday afternoon, taking home a championship trophy, as well as two third-place finishes at the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia. The second varsity eight boat won its second consecutive Coleman D. Boyland trophy, winning the final event by three seconds over Dayton.
It was the third straight year that Buffalo has clinched a Dad Vail championship, starting with the novice eight squad in 2005 and the second varsity eight last year.
Coming into the weekend's regatta ranked eighth in the nation according to US Rowing, the lightweight eight boat experienced a setback, coming in third behind Ohio State and Long Beach State in both the heat race and the finals.
The varsity eight squad finished third in its semifinal heat.