Marshall University Athletics
Bulls Win Series Opener Over Baseball, 7-4
5/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Bulls Win Series Opener Over Baseball, 7-4
5/20/2005
- Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. ? The University at Buffalo scored seven runs in the first four innings and would cruise to a 7-4 win over the Thundering Herd baseball team on Friday afternoon.
Chris Cummings (Huntington, WV) started the game for Marshall (16-32, 8-14 MAC) and struggled from the start. The first run of the game would score on a passed ball. Mike Folli, the UB second baseman, singled to lead off the inning, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout before scoring on the passed ball.
The Bulls (17-30, 3-14-1 MAC) came back with a three-run third inning. The bases were loaded for the Bulls with no outs as Mike Connelly walked to lead off. Mike Folli singled for the second time in the game to move Connelly to second. That was followed by outfielder Phil Vanhorne being hit by a pitch to load up the bases. Joe Mihalics brought home the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center field. Up next was James Kingsley, who singled to right to bring in Folli. A walk to catcher Dan Quinn re-loaded the bases, and two batters later, E.J. Folli walked to bring in the third run of the inning.
The top of the fourth saw the Herd put up its first run of the game. Joe Glevenyak (West Palm Beach, FL) singled to lead off. One out later, Roddy Stieger (Westchester, OH) and Brad Helm (Downingtown, PA) each notched singles to load up the bases for Brent Mason (Sherwood, AR). Mason delivered a sacrifice fly to put MU on the board.
That momentum was short-lived as the Bulls tagged Cummings for two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Connelly singled to begin the inning and scored on a Mike Folli triple. After issuing a walk to center fielder Phil Vanhorne, Cummings was replaced by Brian Knippelmeyer (Lincoln, NE).
With Knippelmeyer?s first batter, Joe Mihalics, at the plate, the Bulls tried to pull off a double-steal. Vanhorne successfully stole second, but Folli was called out at home. That proved to be a big play as Mihalics delivered a single, which would have scored Folli. Next up was Kingsley, who batted in his second and third runs of the game with a triple.
Marshall got right back into the game in the top half of the fifth. Adam Ptacek (Assaria, KS) started the rally with a double. Adam Frederick (Franklin, PA) would reach on an error and Aaron Jamieson (Lindsay, Ont.) followed that up by drawing a walk to load the bases with no outs. Joe Glevenyak grounded into a fielder?s choice to bring in Ptacek for the first run of the inning.
Tommy Johnson (Gaithersburg, MD) reached via the second Buffalo error of the inning to cut UB?s lead to 7-3. Later, Glevenyak would score on an error by Buffalo catcher Dan Quinn.
That is where the scoring stopped as the two teams would combine for only four hits over the final four innings. UB starter Tony Kurtz started the game and went five innings. He gave up four runs to the Herd, but only one was earned. He earned the win, moving to 6-3 on the season. Matt Johnson finished the game for Buffalo, going the final four innings. He gave up just three hits and earned his first save of the season.
For the Herd, Cummings pitched three innings and faced three batters without an out being recorded in the fourth. Six runs, five earned, scored on six hits. Walks were again a problem as Cummings gave up five. Knippelmeyer pitched very well out of the pen. He went the final five innings. After allowing a run when he entered in the fourth, he gave up just one hit in the final four innings of the appearance.
Marshall?s offense notched eight hits on the day. Ptacek, Jamieson and Brad Helm each had two-hit games. Joe Glevenyak had another solid day. He went 1-4 with two runs scored. Buffalo?s offense was led by James Kingsley, who was 3-4 with three RBI?s. Mike Folli was also 3-4. He also scored twice.
Marshall will look to finish up the season on a high note, starting with Saturday?s game against the Bulls at 1 p.m.. The season finale and the Herd?s final Mid-American Conference contest will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
