The UB baseball team started the weekend making history - in pretty much the same way the Dodger relief pitcher made history in giving home run number 71 to Barry Bonds.
West Virginia junior right-hander Billy Biggs threw a no-hitter, using just 96 pitches in nine innings to lead the Mountaineers to a 4-0 shutout of Buffalo at Hawley Field Friday afternoon before a crowd of 324 fans.
Biggs tied his personal best with 10 strikeouts and was perfect except for his second-inning walk to Bulls catcher Brandon DiCesare.
"I had some zip on my fastball tonight so I just kept ahead of the hitters with the fastball and kept them off stride with my changeup," said Biggs.
UB starter Mike Leslie was responsible for all four runs, allowing four hits in five innings and dropping to 0-2 on the season. His cause was not helped as UB committed a season-high six errors, costing them two runs.
Bulls reliever Tyler Balentine allowed one hit while striking out three in three innings.
Biggs (2-2), a 36th round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001, spent his first two years at WVU as a relief pitcher, but seems to be taking the starting role in stride. He was named last week's Big East Pitcher of the Week for his 12-1 victory over Akron and with this game became only the sixth Mountaineer to pitch a no-hitter in school history.
"I had an idea I was throwing a no-hitter in about the fourth inning," Biggs said. The pitcher has only thrown one other no-hitter - when he was 12 years old.
"It was a great way to open the season at Hawley Field," said Biggs. "There was a large crowd out there, hopefully they liked what they saw and will come back."
UB Earns Split in Saturday Doubleheader
The Bulls scored their second impressive win over a nationally recognized D-IA program Saturday, earning a split of a doubleheader by winning game two by a 5-2 score. Buffalo fell in game one, and were shutout again 4-0. UB defeated Southern Mississippi in their previous weekend series to establish a benchmark win for the program.
In the early game the Bulls left the bases loaded in the final inning as WVU freshman Zac Cline (2-0) held on for a five-hit shutout.
The Mountaineers were led by Chad Blevins' two-hit effort. Buffalo received hits from Tim Sova, John Boom, Adrian Daniels, Joe Todoro and Phil Vanhorne.
The nightcap belonged to UB and starter Mark Garrard (1-0), who earned his first college victory as a Bull. Garrard gave up a first-inning run, but Buffalo answered back with single tallies in the second and third to stake a 2-1 lead. Garrard gave up just five hits in six innings, while striking out four.
DiCesare gave the Bulls a 5-1 lead as he plated Eric Huber and Vanhorne with a two-run single up the middle in the fifth inning. The UB catcher also was a gem defensively, throwing out three would-be Mountaineer base runners attempting steals to help Buffalo preserve their lead.
Buffalo reliever Anthony Puccia upped his mark to two-for-two in save opportunities on the year. He went three innings, striking out three and allowing one run.
Bryan Sanchez contributed to the Bulls' effort with an RBI, while Vanhorne had one hit, scored two runs and stole two bases to help the Bulls to victory.
The win split left Buffalo's record at 2-4. WVU moved to 6-5.
Final Game Canceled
The final game of the four-game series was canceled due to rain. Buffalo's season resumes on Saturday March 16 with a doubleheader at Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Md.
