The starting pitching staff was responsible for every earned run that the baseball team allowed this weekend. The Bulls' bats were equally inept, as they continued to struggle with men on base.
The Bulls (10-26, 3-11 Mid-American Conference) entered the week with momentum in conference play, something that they have not been accustomed to having this season. Their hot streak would not continue, as the team faltered mightily.
After coming off three straight losses during the week, the Bulls made the trip to Athens, Ohio to face Ohio (22-17. 11-4 MAC) in a three-game weekend series. The Bobcats have put together an impressive record in conference play thus far and they proved the Bulls as an unworthy opponent in the series, sweeping them 6-4, 5-3, and 4-1.
"The team competed, we played hard, it was a play here or there in each game that didn't go our way and it cost us," said head coach Ron Torgalski. "We had opportunities, we out-hit them in the first two games, I thought we swung the bats half-way decent. Again it's been a problem of ours all year of getting key hits when guys are on base."
The sweep extended the Bulls' recent losing streak to six games, and they have only won four out of their last 24 games.
The Bulls have struggled at the plate and on the mound all season. Both facets were ineffective against the Bobcats this weekend.
In game one, senior pitcher Cameron Copping displayed a lack of control that Torgalski thought was the result of the umpire's excessively tight strike zone.
"We were making some pitches but they just weren't giving them to us," Torgalski said. "For Copping to go out and walk seven guys, it's very uncharacteristic."
The Bulls' bats were unable to overcome the Bobcats' three-run first inning. Copping allowed five earned runs and walked seven batters in only six innings pitched.
Senior pitcher Jeff Thompson followed Copping's game one performance with a similar one. In only four innings in game two, Thompson surrendered nine hits and five earned runs.
Game three brought stronger starting pitching. Sophomore pitcher Michael Burke gave up four runs, only one of which was earned, in Sunday's game. The strong pitching should have given the Bulls' bats a chance to salvage a win.
It still wasn't enough.
In games one and two, the team accounted for a total of 22 hits, but only managed to score seven runs. In game three on Sunday the team accounted for what was its lowest hit total of the season, amassing just four hits that produced a lone run.
Although the bats seemed alive at moments throughout the series, it was never enough to help generate a victory for the reeling Bulls.
Buffalo's pair of superstar juniors, outfielder Matt Pollock and catcher Tom Murphy, delivered the best performances at the plate throughout the weekend. Pollock was able to bat a steady .500, going 6 for 12, and Murphy chipped in with four RBIs, going 5 for 13 at the plate.
Ohio junior pitcher Seth Streich was responsible for shutting down the Bulls on Sunday. His complete-game performance included zero earned runs and 10 strikeouts.
"We have to be better with men on base," Torgalski said. "I'm sure our pitchers are going to come back and throw strikes to give us an opportunity and we just have to be able to capitalize when we get guys on base."
The team will have to wait until next weekend to have the opportunity to end the six-game skid. Miami (Ohio)(20-20, 6-8 MAC) will make the trip to Buffalo to face the Bulls. Game one will take place on Friday with a 3 p.m. scheduled start.
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Photo: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
