If the same two baseball teams play each other three days in a row, what are the chances the games will be somewhat similar?
Well, it depends. If the teams are the Buffalo Bulls (10-24 overall, 3-7 Mid-American Conference) and the Ohio Bobcats (13-23, 6-9 MAC), chances are slim to none. UB ventured to Ohio this past weekend for a three-game series and the games could not have been more different.
On Friday night, the Bulls headed to Bob Wren Stadium for game one of the three game series. Little did they know that they were about to be held to only one run and one hit. Buffalo was defeated in nine innings by a score of 8-1. Ohio's pitcher Chris Bova was ruthless, facing 29 batters and throwing the first one-hitter of his career.
UB recorded their only hit in the second inning when Chris McGraw snuck in an infield single. The ball, which deflected off the pitcher's mitt and towards the shortstop, made it to first base just seconds after McGraw.
Buffalo went on to the seventh inning and earned their lone run thanks to a streak of flukes. UB junior Joe Mihalics reached first after an error by Ohio shortstop Bryant Witt. Mihalics moved to second subsequent to a wild pitch by Bova. Andrew Wengert then grounded out to second but was able to move Mihalics to third. James Kingsley then came up to the plate, grounded out to the shortstop and brought Mihalics home for his 24th RBI of the season, a team best.
While the Bobcats' bomber Bova gave little to the Bulls, Buffalo's Eric Kelly gave up six runs through five innings, earning him the loss.
The Bulls returned to the stadium on Saturday to face Ohio for game two and while the Bobcats didn't go down easily, UB made sure the outcome was in their favor this time around.
Some may have thought they were watching a tennis match, with the way the scoring was going back and forth. The game ended 4-3 in UB's favor after ten innings of play.
Buffalo was first to make their mark on the scoreboard after a groundout by Wengert that brought Al Barbato home early in the first. Barbato reached third on a double by Mihalics after taking first on an error.
The Bobcats matched Buffalo's score in the second when Willie Walker made it home on a groundout by Dusty Hammond.
The tie lasted two and a half innings until the Bulls took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth. Wengert scored on a two out double by Kingsley.
UB was unable to hold the lead for long though. In the bottom of the fifth, the Bobcats countered with a double to left by Brian Colopy that scored Hammond. The game was tied at 2 and remained neutral until the top of the 10th.
With one out, David Amaro came to the plate and hit a single. Amaro moved to third on a double by Phil Vanhorne and scored the go-ahead after a single by Bryan Thrasher. Vanhorne went the distance from third to home after Brian Zelasko hit a sacrifice fly, giving UB the 4-2 lead.
The Bobcats had their chance to retaliate in the bottom of the 10th, but were unsuccessful. With one out, Walker came to the plate and hit a long shot to right, becoming a sacrifice fly as Wengert caught the ball and Bryan Buck made his way home. Bryan Witt then came to the plate but popped up to center field, ending the game in the Bulls' favor.
The final game of the series also went in favor of the Bulls but wasn't nearly as much of a nail biter. In fact, the only time where suspense was a factor in Buffalo's 4-0 win was during the hour-plus rain delay.
Once the skies cleared, UB started the game on the right foot and never stepped back. Mihalics hit one out of the park at the top of the first with Barbato on base and made the score 2-0 Bulls.
The score remained stagnant for the next six innings until Kingsley came up to bat. He hit a triple into center field and brought home Mihalics and Wengert, both who had singled, furthering UB's lead to 4-0.
UB's bullpen kept the Bobcats at bay by allowing only five hits in nine scoreless innings. McGraw solidly pitched the first seven innings while Sean McWilliams pitched the last two innings, earning him his first save of the year.
UB returns to Buffalo tomorrow and Wednesday for the annual Big 4 Classic Tournament at Dunn Tire Park. The Bulls will face the Niagara Purple Eagles on Tuesday at 1 p.m. The start time for Wednesday's game against either the Canisius Griffins or the St. Bonaventure Bonnies is yet to be announced.
Buffalo continues their MAC schedule this coming weekend when they will be at Kent State for a three-game series.
