Heading into last weekend's battle with Central Michigan, the Buffalo baseball team was holding a 1-12 record, yet the Bulls had a chance for a fresh start with the beginning of Mid-American Conference play.
Although the Bulls showed resistance and spirit all weekend, it wasn't enough to get back in the win column as they fell to the Chippewas (11-10, 3-0 MAC) in all three games.
Friday night belonged to senior pitcher Adam Ruszkowski as he had a solid performance on the mound. Ruszkowski pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up three runs, but it was his accuracy and ability to pitch deep into the game that showed promise. Ruszkowski walked none of the 31 batters he faced and has only walked one batter the entire season. Ruszkowski didn't get much help from his batters as the Bulls chalked up a zero on the scoreboard and fell 3-0.
"Central (Michigan) had their best pitchers throwing," said Buffalo head coach Ron Torgalski. "Their pitcher was an All-MAC performer last year, probably one of the top guys in the league and a top 10 round draft pick. So we faced a good kid. When you are facing one of the top guys in the league and you have three starters out with injuries, it's going to be tough. We just struggled at the plate."
The Bulls had their best scoring threat off of Chippewas' starting pitcher Josh Collmenter in the third inning, when junior second baseman Rick Oliveri singled to center field. Oliveri advanced to second on a wild pitch and junior shortstop Mike Folli received a two-out walk to put runners on first and second. Oliveri tried to score on another single but was thrown out at home by the center fielder. The Bulls were unable to record another hit after the third inning and put just three runners on base the rest of the game.
Game two on Saturday afternoon looked to be the win the Bulls were looking for but they were unable to hold on to a 6-2 lead, allowing nine unanswered runs and falling to the Chippewas, 11-6.
"We played them tough," Torgalski said. "We jumped on them in the fourth and we try to stress that when we get the momentum we want to keep it going. We had the lead and had the chance to increase it. We had bases loaded and we hit into a double play. We had the chance to put the pressure on them and we didn't."
Buffalo racked up 10 hits on the afternoon, with eight players recording at least one, but it wasn't enough to stop Central Michigan from storming back. Sophomore second baseman Brad Augustin and freshman outfielder Bobby Pizzuto led Buffalo at the plate. Augustin had two hits and an RBI in the game. Pizzuto also had two hits, along with a stolen base and a run scored. Sophomore pitcher James Flatle came on in relief for senior Mike Radanovic and picked up the loss, dropping to 1-2 on the season.
"Our kids had a better approach at the plate and we did get some clutch hitting at the plate when we did get those runs," Torgalski said. "They are picked to win the league this year and they aren't going to quit. But through seven innings we had the lead against the top team in the league. We are getting close and just need some wins under our belts to gain some confidence."
With one last chance to come away with a win, the Bulls fell hard in the Sunday match-up, getting blanked again, 10-0. Buffalo went hit-for-hit with the Chippewas as each team had nine, but the Bulls couldn't produce enough to score runs. It was a close game at 2-0 until Central Michigan scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull away. Junior infielder Tony Fuller went 2-4 on the afternoon, as did sophomore outfielder James Piazza. Seven different Bulls recorded hits on the afternoon.
"Into the sixth inning of today's game it was only 2-0 and both runs were unearned," Torgalski said. "Like I told the kids, you take out the seventh and sixth innings of these games, for 25 of 27 innings we played dead even with the best team in the conference. It was encouraging to compete with them. Today's score doesn't show it was a close game. It was 2-0 and we had opportunities."
After the weekend play, the Bulls fell to 1-15 overall and 0-3 in the MAC. After playing their first 16 games on the road, the Bulls finally get to play on their home grass Wednesday with a doubleheader against LeMoyne. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
"Eastern Michigan is coming in next weekend and they have beat Arizona and Tennessee, so it gives us a chance to get excited finally being home," Torgalski said. "It will be nice not to have to get on a bus for seven hours and be able to play in front of your own fans."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
