Bulls take two of three from Ohio, remain No. 1 in MAC

After two easy wins to start the weekend and with its ace on the mound Sunday, the baseball team appeared to be in a good position to sweep its third straight conference series.

But uncharacteristic poor defense and wild pitching gave underdog Ohio (12-33, 7-14 Mid-American Conference) two leads late in the game, and although the Bulls (26-18, 15-5 MAC) rallied from behind twice earlier in the game, they could not overcome the final deficit. The Bulls remain 1.5 games ahead of Kent State and Northern Illinois for No. 1 overall in the conference.

When sophomore pitcher Mike McGee was pulled in the bottom of the second inning in the series opener against Akron (9-31, 6-11 Mid-American Conference) on Friday night, the Bulls’ streak of conference series-opening wins seemed to be very much in jeopardy.

McGee allowed five runs in just an inning and two thirds and the Bulls (23-18, 13-4 MAC) trailed 5-1.

Looking back on my time at UB, I can only think of who I was when I walked in and who I am today. Reflecting on the biggest transition of my life, I realize that my toes grace the precipice of what might be an even more risky and encompassing decision. 

Means drafted, Moseley signed

Graduating defensive end Steven Means was the No. 147 overall pick in the fifth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday – making him the fifth Bull to be drafted in the past five years. Graduating UB linebacker Willie Moseley, who was signed as an undrafted free agent moments after the draft, will be joining Means in Tampa Bay.

The Spectrum presents its end-of-the-year sports awards

The Spectrum reveals the fans' pick for Athlete of the Year in addition to the editors' selections for Best Male Athlete, Best Female Athlete, Coach of the Year, Club Sports Team of the Year, Biggest Surprise of the Year, Best Game of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Best Team.

After wins against American International and Lock Haven, UB’s Flying Squirrels (10-0) have earned their first appearance in the USA Rugby Final Four.

In the past eight years, the Flying Squirrels have captured three Division I New York State Championships. The Squirrels moved to Division II in 2012 and claimed a Division II Empire State Championship in the fall.

The team finished undefeated in conference play in the fall season, which concluded Oct. 27. Buffalo shut out six of its nine opponents, outscoring them 368-35 in the fall, qualifying the Squirrels for the 2013 Women’s Collegiate Division II National Championship in the spring. 

Star sprinter’s transfer to UB leads to championships, records on the track

Junior track star Miles Lewis might not have ever become UB’s “top dog” if he hadn’t accepted a challenge in middle school.

A member of the track team challenged him to a race behind the school building. Lewis gladly accepted his opponent. He hadn’t just won the race, though; Lewis had caught the eye of the middle school track coach. 

Baseball team travels to Akron after home-opening sweep of Kent State

A little more than halfway through its conference schedule, the baseball team has already matched the school record for conference wins.

The Bulls (21-17, 11-4 Mid-American Conference) have catapulted into first place in the MAC East division after a sweep of defending MAC champion Kent State (20-20, 9-6 MAC) last weekend.

White applies lessons learned on skates to pharmacy career

Alexis White could not comprehend what the doctor had just told her.

Her eyes were wide but her stare was blank. She felt numb as she listened to the clock.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

She could not imagine worse news.

White had suffered two back fractures, and for the next six months, she could not do the one thing that made her feel liberated:

Figure skating.

White, now a sophomore pre-pharmacy major at UB, grew up skating in Western New York. She traveled as far as Texas to compete against the country’s best.