Opening day came and went for the baseball team over the weekend, and though its bats were hot, the Charlotte sticks were just plain scorching.
The Bulls (0-3) lost three straight games to the Charlotte 49ers (4-2) and in the process allowed a staggering 31 runs in the three-game series.
Buffalo pitchers struggled throughout the weekend, but it to be expected on their first outings of the year.
'I expect all of our pitchers to get better,' said Bulls head coach Ron Torgalski. 'I thought every pitcher we threw out there struggled at times and I have to attribute that to it being the first time they've been outside.'
Early season rust and limited on-field practice time is what Torgalski feels led to his team's slow start.
'I think the big thing was the fact that we haven't been outside,' Torgalski said. 'We need to get used to taking balls on grass and dirt. [We need to get used] to live pitching.'
In an 11-5 drubbing in the first game, the Bulls sent out senior ace Pierre Miville-Deschenes who lasted only four and two-thirds innings. In that stretch, he surrendered four runs on seven hits but only one run was earned as the Bulls committed four errors in the game. He also walked four batters and struck out three.
There were some bright spots offensively for Buffalo.
Senior right fielder Charlie Karstedt hit a home run in the top of the sixth inning and finished the game with two hits and two runs batted in. With three singles in the game, senior catcher Brad Cochrane went 3-for-4 in the game and scored on a double off the bat of senior first baseman Rob Lawler in the top of the eighth inning.
Senior hurler Chaz Mye toed the rubber for the Bulls in an 8-4 loss during the second game. He walked four 49ers and struck out three in four and a third innings pitched.
Both teams were quiet at the plate early on. Three innings went into the books and the game was still at a scoreless deadlock.
Buffalo, however, exploded in the fourth inning with three runs. Senior left fielder David Neff led off the inning with a single to right centerfield. With no outs, senior center fielder Adam Skonieczki blasted a home run to left center to start the scoring for the Bulls.
Skonieczki only had two home runs all of last season so the early display of power is a good sign for the Bulls.
Torgalski thought the hitting was good considering the season just started.
'For the first weekend out I thought [our hitting] was okay,' Torgalski said. 'I think we have a lot of room to get better and at times I thought we got ourselves into bad hitting counts. When we were aggressive early in counts I thought we swung the bats pretty well.'
After a walk earned by senior third baseman Jacob Rosenbeck, Cochrane blasted a double down the left field line to finish the scoring for the Bulls in the inning.
Charlotte, however, didn't let the Bulls get comfortable, as they equaled the Bulls in the bottom of the third with three runs of their own. They would add three more runs over the next two innings to pull away.
Eight of the nine starters got a hit in the game for the Bulls but it would not be enough on Saturday.
The Bulls set out on Sunday with hopes of avoiding the sweep but it didn't take long for the 49ers to disrupt the Buffalo effort.
After a three-run inning that was highlighted by a Rosenbeck double which scored two runs, the Bulls looked to be in a great position for their first victory. The 3-1 score quickly evaporated, however, when the 49ers came to the plate in the bottom of the inning.
Charlotte plated seven runs on only four hits in the bottom of the third inning. Starting pitcher senior Brian Pullyblank was pulled after throwing just two and two thirds innings. He allowed six earned runs and walked three batters in his first start ever for the Bulls.
The Bulls would get outscored 4-1 the rest of the way and lose their third straight game, 12-4.
Rosenbeck and Cochrane led the Bulls from the plate, hitting .444 and .400 respectively for the series.
The Bulls will have to lick their wounds quickly as they get right back on the road this weekend for a three-game series with the Morehead State Eagles. The first game is set for Friday at 3 p.m.
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