University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: April 17, 2008

Baseball

UB 10, Niagara 6
Western Michigan 12, UB 5
Western Michigan 4, UB 0
Western Michigan 3, UB 0

Making its first appearance of the season at Amherst Audubon Field, UB defeated local rival Niagara, 10-6, on April 9. Jacob Rosenbeck had three hits for the Bulls and Adam Skonieczki hit his second home run of the season.

After Niagara jumped out to a 2-0 lead, UB answered with a run in the bottom of the first. Nick Walczak singled home Rosenbeck, who had singled earlier in the inning, to cut the Niagara lead in half.

After Niagara scored another run in the second, the Bulls scored three in the bottom of the frame to take a 4-3 lead. Trevor Blair singled and scored on a Brian Randazzo double to center for the first UB run of the inning. Randazzo then scored on a double down the left-field line by Rosenbeck to tie the score. UB took a lead when Rosenbeck scored on a single by Chris Ciesla.

The Bulls scored another run in the third to increase their lead to 5-3, but Niagara came back with two in the fourth to tie the game, 5-5.

UB regained the lead in the fifth when Skonieczki hit a two-run home run to left field, giving the Bulls a 7-5 advantage.

After Niagara scored a run in the sixth to pull within one, Tony Fuller increased the UB lead to 9-6 in the seventh with a two-out double down the left-field line, scoring Ciesla and Skonieczki.

The Bulls added a final run in the eighth when Rick Oliveri scored on a single to left field by Rosenbeck.

James Piazza picked up the win for the Bulls, throwing three inning and allowing one earned run while striking out three.

The Bulls dropped the first game of their three-game Mid-American Conference series at Western Michigan, 12-5, on Friday.

Western Michigan scored first in the second inning when Max Kelmigian got an infield single and later scored on a fielder’s choice.

UB answered in the top of the third when Rob Mancini drew a one-out walk and Rosenbeck drove him in with a double off the center-field fence. The Bulls took the lead when Ciesla followed Rosenbeck’s double with an RBI single up the middle.

The Broncos regained the lead in the bottom of the third on a solo home run and a run-scoring double to the wall in right-center field.

Western Michigan took a 4-2 lead when Derek Mosher led off the fourth with a walk and scored on a ground out. The Broncos added to their lead in the fifth with four runs and a pair of runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings.

The Bulls didn’t quit, scoring three runs in the ninth. Fuller and Charlie Karstedt walked to begin the inning, Fuller scored when Randazzo reached on an error, Karstedt scored on a sacrifice fly by Mancini. Ciesla then drove in Shivam Bhan with a single up the middle.

After Saturday’s game was rained out, the teams played a doubleheader on a cold, windy Sunday afternoon. The Broncos took game one, 4-0, and game two, 3-0. UB now stands at 8-23 on the season and 2-9 in the MAC.

Western Michigan opened the scoring in game one with an unearned run in the first inning when Zach Gentile reached on a throwing error by the Bulls and then scored on a single by Joe Sheets.

The Broncos scored three in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 4-0.

In game two, Western Michigan took the lead in the third on a two-out, two-run single up the middle.

UB threatened in both the seventh and eighth innings. Eric Flynn, who made an outstanding catch in left field earlier in the game, had a two-out single down the left-field line in the seventh. Oliveri followed with a single to right center, but Bronco starting pitcher Brian Stroud induced a pop out to end the inning. Randazzo singled to open the eighth and Skonieczki followed with a sharply hit single to center field. After Rosenbeck walked to load the bases, Western Michigan brought in Derek Mosher to pitch and he ended the UB threat with a pop out and a pair of strikeouts.

The Bulls will return to action this weekend when they host Miami (Ohio) in a three-game series at Amherst Audubon Field. Game times are 3 p.m. tomorrow and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Softball

Northern Illinois 5, UB 3
Northern Illinois 3, UB 2
Western Michigan 7, UB 2
Western Michigan 7, UB 1

UB continued MAC play on Friday, facing off against the Northern Illinois Huskies on the road in DeKalb. The Bulls suffered a 5-3 setback in game one and fell, 3-2, in the nightcap.

After a scoreless first inning in the day’s opening game, NIU tacked three runs on the board in the bottom of the second and added single runs in both the fifth and the sixth innings to take a 5-0 advantage into the top of the seventh.

The Bulls mounted a seventh-inning rally to keep the game within reach. Lacy Schneider led off the inning, reaching base on a Northern Illinois error. After Schneider was replaced with a pinch runner, Candice Sheehan reached first on a fielder’s choice, with the inning’s first out recorded at second base. After a Sheehan stolen base, Kristen Gallipani singled to left field to advance Sheehan to third. Erin Zilka then singled to right field to score both Gallipani and Sheehan. After Marcy Hansen reached on a fielder’s choice, with Zilka out at second, Mary Russell tripled to right-center to pick up the RBI, making the score 5-3.

In game two, the Bulls jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first, with Zilka leading off with a double to center. Hansen followed with a single to score Zilka. With one down, Russell found her way to first after getting hit by a pitch and Wendy Sheehan advanced Russell to second after putting the ball in play and reaching on a fielder’s choice. Sharon Barr then loaded the bases with a single to left and Alex Bejarano picked up the RBI after reaching base on an error.

UB maintained its 2-0 lead through three innings until the Huskies scored one in the fourth and later tied the game, 2-2, in the fifth.

After a scoreless sixth for both teams, NIU took the game in the bottom of the seventh, scoring the winning run on two hits.

On Sunday, the Bulls faced the Broncos in a doubleheader, scheduled as a result of a rainout on Saturday. The Bulls fell to WMU, 7-2, in the day’s first game and 7-1 in the second game.

In the first game of the day, the Broncos scored five quick runs in the first two innings and added two more in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-0 lead.

UB, however, appeared poised for a comeback, plating a pair of runs in the sixth.

Gallipani drew a one-out walk and followed by stealing second. Zilka then slammed a two-run homer to get the Bulls on the scoreboard.

UB was able to hold WMU scoreless in the bottom half of the inning, but was unable to notch any runs in the seventh.

In the day’s second game, the Bulls held on to a 1-0 lead through the first three and a half innings.

Stephanie Visperas got the Bulls offense going in the top of the second, belting a double to right center. Dana Carter kept the scoring drive alive by laying down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Visperas to third as she reached first on a fielder’s choice. Ashley Kanavy then picked up the RBI as she singled up the middle to score Visperas.

In the bottom of the fourth, however, Western Michigan scored one and followed with six more over the next two innings to take a 7-1 lead into the seventh. The Bulls were unable to score in the top of the inning, handing the Broncos the win.

Tennis

MEN’S

Ball State 6, UB 1

UB fell to Ball State, 6-1, Sunday afternoon in its final MAC match of the regular season. With the loss, the Bulls stand 5-16 overall and 0-5 in league play.

Kirill Kolomyts scored singles and doubles victories for the Bulls. In singles play, Kolomyts scored a 7-5, 6-2 win over Ball State’s Jorge Rodriguez in the number-four match. Kolomyts also teamed with Alexis Lluis for a win at third doubles. The UB tandem defeated Shaun Bussert and Joe Vallee in a tiebreaker, 7-3, to gain the 8-7 win after Ball State (10-12, 3-1 MAC) had already claimed the opening point.

WOMEN’S

UB 7, Akron 0

UB snapped a three-match losing skid with a convincing 7-0 win against Akron on Friday afternoon. The Bulls won all three doubles matches and every contest in singles play to improve their record to 8-7 on the year and 3-3 in the MAC.

In doubles play, the first-doubles squad of Denise Harijanto and Diana Popescu remained undefeated in the MAC, defeating Tanyaradzwa Gombera and Carolina Castro Cota, 8-2. The second-doubles team of Smaranda Stan and Diana Toia and the third-doubles team of Andreea Novaceanu and Tina Jacob each won their matches by identical 8-4 scores.

In singles play, the Bulls won all six of their matches in straight sets, with no Akron player winning more than four games in any set. Novaceanu defeated Gombera, 6-2, 6-3 at first singles, while Harijanto moved back up to second singles and defeated Castro Cota, 6-4, 6-4. Popescu and Stan both picked up wins and continue to lead the team in victories with 22 singles wins each. Popescu defeated Lindsey Berry, 6-1, 6-3, and Stan won her match against Jeremie Benjamin, 6-4, 6-1. Toia took the win at fifth singles against Alyssa Carlson, 6-1, 6-3, and Jacob won her match at sixth singles against Kerry Langworthy, 6-4, 6-2. Sophomore Anna Subenkova won her exhibition match against Laura Hemlepp, 8-2.

The match was the Bulls’ final road contest as they wrap up the regular season at home tomorrow against Toledo before hosting the 2008 MAC Championships April 24-27.

Track and Field

Men finish second, women third at Miami Invitational

UB turned in strong performances on Saturday at the Miami Invitational. The men finished second to the host RedHawks, while the women were third behind the RedHawks and MAC member Bowling Green.

The UB men collected five first-place finishes on the day, highlighted by two individual victories by sophomore sprinter Ezekiel Porter. Porter won the 100-meter dash in 10.66 seconds, just two-hundredths of a second off the school record, as the Bulls took the top three spots in the race. Dan Schichtel finished second in a season-best 10.74 and Brian Smith was third in 10.75. Porter also won the 200-meter dash in 21.90 with Smith claiming second in 22.03, Schichtel placing fourth in 22.45 and Eugene Kennedy finishing fifth in 22.67.

Porter was also instrumental in helping the Bulls to a first-place finish in the 4x100-meter relay. The foursome of Schichtel, Porter, James Graber and Brandon Giles finished in 41.61.

Also picking up a victory for the Bulls was Loic Sebuharara, who led a strong men’s horizontal jump contingent with a first-place finish in the triple jump. The Bulls took the top two spots, with Sebuharara winning with a leap of 46-0.75 (14.04m) and teammate Chandler Brown turning in a season-best with his second-place leap of 44-3.25 (13.49m).

In other field results, Alex Stamatakis won the men’s discus toss with a throw of 158-5 (48.30m) and P.J. Godios finished second in the javelin with a season-best toss of 180-9 (55.09m).

UB hurdlers placed second and third in the 110-meter race. Freshman Jamal Norward took second in 15.10, while freshman Austin Archibald was third in 15.28. Both were season-best marks for the hurdlers. Brendan Hagerty finished third in the 400-meter hurdles in 57.48.

The UB women scored two first-place finishes. Tiffany Maskulinski took the pole vault with a leap of 12-1.50 (3.70m), tying the season-best she posted at the season-opening Seahawk Invitational last month.

The Bulls placed one-two in the women’s javelin throw, with both individuals posting NCAA East Regional qualifying marks. Senior Vanessa Roelofsen won the event with a throw of 149-10 (45.67m) and freshman Katie Weston was second with her throw of 144-8 (44.09m).

The Bulls will host the UB Invitational this Saturday in UB Stadium. The first event is slated for 9:30 am.

Crew

Bulls complete stellar performance at Knecht Cup

UB completed one of its finest weekends in the program’s history, sending six boats into the grand finals at the Knecht Cup. Two boats received medals: the varsity eight boat placed second, while the lightweight four boat placed third.

The varsity eight’s second-place finish was UB’s best at the event.

UB’s novice four boat finished in fourth place in its final, while the varsity four finished sixth. The second varsity eight finished in fourth in its grand final, while the lightweight eight finished in third in the petite final. Buffalo’s second varsity four boat also finished in fourth place in the final.

The Bulls will be back in action on Saturday as they host Colgate, Connecticut and Eastern Michigan in their lone home meet of the year. The meet will begin at 8 a.m. on Tonawanda Creek.

Football

Blue 73, White 59

UB held its annual Blue-White Scrimmage on Saturday in UB Stadium. Using a scoring system that allowed both the offense and defense to score points, the offense (Blue) defeated the defense (White), 73-59, in front of over 500 fans.

Drew Willy looked sharp, as the senior signal caller went 16-of-22 for 197 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown was a four-yard slant to Naaman Roosevelt, who finished the day with six catches for 44 yards.

James Starks was limited to two carries on the afternoon as the reserves saw the bulk of the action. Brandon Thermilus stood out among the running backs with 91 yards on 12 carries. He scored on a 16-yard touchdown run. Ike Nduka had a 30-yard touchdown run and finished the day with 37 yards on seven carries.

Ernest Jackson had four catches for 66 yards, including three grabs of 18 yards or more. Terrell Jackson had three catches for 37 yards and Alex Pierre had a pair of grabs for 50 yards.

Also seeing time at quarterback were redshirt-freshman Ed Young and walk-on Cory Jorgensen.

Defensively, the Bulls were led by sophomore linebacker Jerry Housey with a game-high 7.5 tackles. Redshirt-freshman linebacker Raphael Akubundo and Davonte Shannon, a member of the All-MAC first team, each added 5.5 tackles.

UB will open the 2008 season by hosting UTEP on Aug. 28 in UB Stadium.