Good pitching and good defense win games, but the baseball team had neither in the opening game of the Big 4 Baseball Classic at Amherst Audubon Field Tuesday afternoon.
Canisius dropped the Bulls by a score of 12-4 in the two teams' first meeting since a bench-clearing brawl ended their last game after only three innings.
"I thought we came out flat," said Buffalo head coach Bill Breene. "We had the opportunity to score three in the first half inning but I was disappointed the staff didn't hold the lead."
Canisius' starter in that last match-up, junior Mike Bax, was on the hill again for the Golden Griffins, and for the Bulls it was sophomore left-hander Shane Wolf.
Third-seeded Buffalo got on the board first in the top half of the first frame. Singles by freshman shortstop Brad Agustin and senior centerfielder Carl Aquila put runners on the corners. After senior first baseman James Kingsley struck out, junior catcher Dan Quinn laced a single to left allowing Agustin to score. An error by the shortstop and a wild pitch brought in two more runs before Bax struck out freshman third baseman Jacob Rosenbeck to end the inning.
Canisius responded to Buffalo's 3-0 lead with three consecutive three-run innings.
In the bottom half of the first, after two singles, third baseman Kevin Mahoney doubled down the left field line, scoring one Canisius runner. The next batter, first baseman Connor Burke, cleared the bases with a single to right and tied the game, 3-3.
After a scoreless top of the second, two walks and a single loaded the bases for the Golden Griffins. Wolf bounced back with a strikeout and what should have been the second out of the inning but a fielding error by Kingsley allowed two runs to score.
Wolf took the loss for Buffalo and lasted only one and two-thirds innings. The southpaw allowed six runs, four earned, on six hits and struck out three batters while walking two.
"It's unusual for Wolf to come out and not have his stuff," Breene said. "I'm not sure if he's tired. We're running them out there every three days but we spotted him a three-run lead and I didn't expect that to happen."
Buffalo made the score 6-4 in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly by Quinn that scored Kingsley. It was the last time a Buffalo runner crossed the plate.
Canisius added to its lead in the bottom of the third. After two singles, Larson retired two batters but hit catcher Gabe Baida to load the bases. Senior right fielder Matt Mazurek then picked up three of his game-high five RBIs on a double to left. After four innings, Canisius lead Buffalo 9-4.
Buffalo's rough day continued in the top of the seventh inning when Agustin was ejected from the game for arguing balls and strikes.
"I don't like when that happens," Breene said. "I think he was complaining about the pitch prior to the strikeout pitch but he's got to learn to control himself. We need him in the lineup."
The Golden Griffins later tacked on three more runs to their lead in the bottom of the eighth. Two errors by freshman right fielder James Piazza and a base-on-balls allowed three unearned runs to score for Canisius.
On a day when Buffalo produced as many errors as runs, freshman Steve Geltz was the lone bright spot for the Bulls. The right-hander was the only Buffalo pitcher to not give up a run. Geltz threw a strong three innings and gave up only three hits while striking out five and walking two.
"He's been one of the kids who came out and been a bright spot," Breene said. "Steve's done a nice job. He's got a lot of innings and a lot of experience and he's going to be one of the kids we count on in the future."
Bax got the win for Canisius. The junior scattered six hits over seven innings and gave up four runs, two of which were earned. The right-hander struck out eight Bulls and walked only one.
"He was tough," Breene said. "He's one of those kids that battles. He throws hard and has a hard breaking pitch. He deserved to win today."
Buffalo next takes the field Wednesday in the consolation game of the Big 4. Their opponent will have been determined by the outcome of Tuesday's later game, between Niagara and St. Bonaventure, last year's Big 4 winner. This is the third year in a row Buffalo will be playing in the consolation game. The game is slated to begin at 3 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
