Rain, sleet or snow couldn't stop the Bulls men's baseball team from playing this weekend. While unseasonable weather has cancelled baseball games throughout the northeast, Mother Nature provided just enough relief for the Bulls to travel to Toledo, Ohio for a three game series with the Toledo Rockets.
After dropping the first game of the series, the Bulls came out strong Saturday afternoon, defeating the Rockets 9-3. Sophomore pitcher Chris Ciesla finished with four hits and senior starting pitcher Mike Radanovic went seven strong innings, allowing seven hits and only one earned run while striking out seven.
"Mike has been pitching well as of late," said head coach Ron Torgalski. "He had a good game against Eastern last week. He had some control problems on Saturday, hit a few people but we know he can be even better."
Buffalo (3-22, 2-7 Mid-American Conference) got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning with a leadoff double by Ciesla. A single by junior second baseman Tony Fuller brought Ciesla around for the first of four second inning runs.
With the score at 4-1 in the seventh inning, the Bulls were able to blow the game open. With two outs and the bases empty, sophomore outfielder Eric Flynn began the big inning with a double to left center. Ciesla followed that with an RBI double of his own.
After a hit and a passed ball put runners on second and third, Fuller delivered a two RBI double to extend the Bulls lead to 7-1.
Toledo (14-11, 5-4 MAC) added two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to close within four. However, the Bulls slammed the door shut on the Rockets' comeback with two runs in the top of the ninth. Freshman center fielder Bobby Pizzuto smoked a two RBI single through the right side of the infield to bring in the games final two runs, giving the Bulls their second conference victory of the year.
As well as the Bulls played on Saturday, they were equally as bad in the first game Friday night. Toledo won handily 12-2, out hitting the Bulls 17-3. Five errors by Buffalo gave Toledo three unearned runs.
Starting pitcher Adam Ruszkowski was shelled in just three innings, allowing six runs on seven hits in three innings of work. Freshman relief pitcher Jeffrey Hains did not fair any better than Ruszkowski. Hains was roughed up for five runs, only three of which were earned, and allowed nine hits in all.
"I hope the weather wasn't a factor," Torgalski said. "Toledo played in the same conditions and they didn't commit five errors. I definitely think concentration played a part in it."
In the final game of the series, the Bulls found themselves on the wrong side of a close contest.
Toledo opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first and added another run in the third to take an early 3-0 lead. After only producing three hits in the first five innings, the Bulls came up with three more in the top of the sixth inning.
Junior shortstop Mike Folli got the inning started with a single and Flynn followed with a walk to put runners at first and second base. A double steal pushed the runners to second and third for Ciesla, who delivered a single to left field, scoring Folli and Flynn.
The game went to the bottom of the ninth tied at four. Toledo opened the inning with a double down the left field line. A Bulls throwing error allowed the runner to advance to third, forcing Buffalo to intentionally load the bases in hope of turning a double play.
However, Toledo was able to finish the job with a sacrifice fly that brought home the Rockets leadoff hitter, giving Toledo the 5-4 victory. The Bulls have now lost by one run six times this season.
Junior pitcher Mark Tourangeau struggled in his six innings of work, allowing nine hits and six walks in six innings while striking out four.
Tuesday afternoon the Bulls return home to play their fifth game in six days when they take on local rival Niagara University at 3 p.m.
"We have a young team," Torgalski said. "I hope our guys won't be tired. We have enough fresh arms ready to go."
