A Bulls baseball squad full of talented but untested newcomers took the diamond for the first time this season Sunday, losing the first game of a doubleheader but picking up the nightcap at Appalachian State.
After the first game was rained out on Saturday, the Bulls dropped the first game on Sunday 12-6 and won the second by a score of 4-2.
In the win, Buffalo got out of the gate quickly. The first batter of the game, sophomore shortstop Mike Folli, doubled down the line and later scored on a single by senior first baseman James Kingsley. A bases-loaded walk later in the inning gave the Bulls their second run.
"Our veterans stepped up both offensively and defensively in the second game," said Buffalo head coach Bill Breene. "Folli is the real deal, a legitimate hitter from both sides of the plate. Kingsley is a big power guy for us."
Appalachian State responded with a run of its own in the bottom half of the first, but failed to score a run again until the fifth inning.
Junior starting pitcher Matt Francavillo shut down the Mountaineers. Francavillo gave Buffalo five innings, during which he allowed just four hits and one earned run.
Clutch hitting and a strong bullpen proved to be the difference down the stretch. The game-winning run came in the eighth inning off a Folli RBI single that brought home senior right fielder Carl Aquila.
"Carl made a couple of nice plays defensively in right and had a couple timely hits," Breene said.
A trio of relievers had hands in shutting out the Mountaineers for four innings after Francavillo exited the ballgame. The three allowed just two hits, and walked none.
Freshman reliever Dan Francis earned the win allowing no base runners in two innings, while senior reliever Sean McWilliams fanned two batters in a scoreless eighth.
"We're pretty confident the bullpen is going to be an improved aspect of the team," Breene said. "Danny Francis threw two lights-out innings and we knew McWilliams was going to throw a scoreless inning. We've got a good mix of veterans and first-year guys coming in with talent. It's really the best situation we've been in since the program was reinstated."
Breene brought in freshman reliever Steve Geltz to close the game in the ninth. Geltz retired the first batter but the second reached base with a single. After striking out the next hitter, Geltz whiffed freshman first baseman Wes Borden with a knee-buckling 0-2 curve to end the game.
"He's not the biggest guy, but he's got a heart like a lion," Breene said. "He loves to be in that setting. He's very consistent around the plate with his fastball, breaking ball and changeup."
For the Bulls, Folli and Kingsley had three hits apiece and Aquila scored the game-winning run.
The Bulls looked more like a team lacking in experience than one full of talent in the first contest. Throughout the game, Buffalo was plagued by errors in the field and poor execution at the plate. As a team, the Bulls committed five errors and squandered numerous opportunities with runners in scoring position.
"We had three freshmen in the lineup. I think we kind of ran into first-day-on-the-field, freshman-type jitters," Breene said. "The first three innings we missed some plays on routine balls that extended the inning. I wasn't real pleased with our execution advancing runners."
Appalachian State got off to a hot start, leading 8-0 after three innings. Buffalo answered with two runs in the fourth, but the early eight-run deficit proved to be insurmountable.
Kingsley and sophomore designated hitter Kevin Nowak were the only Bulls with multiple hits. Kingsley went 2-for-5, and Nowak was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored.
The Bulls will look to build on their strong finish in the twinbill with a three-game series at Maryland Eastern Shore. A doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday at noon and the third game is set for noon Sunday.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
