The Buffalo baseball team was bested in three straight games by Mid-American Conference foe, the Western Michigan Broncos. The Bulls traveled to Kalamazoo, Mich. for a three game set, during which they were outscored 17-5.
The 12-5, 4-0 and 3-0 losses brought the Bulls' record to 8-23 overall, and 2-9 in MAC competition, while the Broncos jumped to 18-10-1 overall with a 5-4 MAC record.
In Friday's opening game, Western Michigan tallied at least one run per inning, except the first and eighth. The Broncos' starting pitcher, Ethan Hollingsworth, threw eight solid innings, striking out eight and earning his fourth win of the season. Sophomore relief pitcher Micheal Klepper finished the game, pitching the top of the ninth inning. He escaped after getting himself into some trouble, surrendering three runs to the Bulls' offense.
Western Michigan struck first in the bottom of the second, scoring one run. Buffalo answered in the third, plating two runs when junior catcher Rob Mancini was driven in by a double by junior shortstop Jacob Rosenbeck. Rosenbeck scored when junior right fielder Chris Ciesla ripped an RBI single back up the middle.
The lead was short lived, as the Broncos scored two more runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by solo home run over the centerfield wall by senior Joe Sheets. This was Sheets' team-leading fifth homer of the year.
The Broncos' bats really came to life in the fifth, as they scored four runs, extending their lead to 8-2. Western Michigan added a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh innings, bringing their lead to 12.
Senior designated hitter Tony Fuller, and sophomore infielders Charlie Karstedt and Shivam Bhan represented Buffalo's three runs in the top of the ninth, as the team capitalized on the two walks Klepper handed out to start the inning.
Saturday's match-up, which was postponed due to extreme precipitation, was made-up in a doubleheader on Sunday.
While the wind still blew on Sunday, it was not enough to warrant rescheduling, as the Bulls and Broncos took to the field for two games in frosty, windy conditions.
Western Michigan scored a run in the first inning and three more in the fifth to secure a 4-0 victory in the first game of the day. Broncos' sophomore right-hander Billy Morrison hurled a masterpiece from the mound, throwing a complete-game four hitter.
Junior Mike Stangroom was solid on the mound for Buffalo, throwing all eight innings. He allowed just two earned runs, as he collected five strikeouts, and handed out just one walk. His efforts weren't enough however, as Buffalo's offense failed to get a single run across the plate.
The Broncos jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the third inning of the second game of the day, when sophomore Chris Lewis delivered a two-out single to drive in two.
Buffalo's bats threatened in the seventh and eighth innings, but the Bulls were not able to put one across the plate. The Bulls left two runners stranded in the seventh inning, and another three were left on base in the eighth.
Freshman Jesse Reinstein took the loss on the hill for the Bulls, allowing two runs in six innings and fanning five Broncos batters.
The Bulls will be back on the field this weekend, as they take on Miami (OH) in a three-game set on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Games will be played at Amherst Audubon Field in the Pepsi Center complex. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. for the Saturday and Sunday games.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
