BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo baseball team was swept by Toledo in a conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Amherst Audubon Field. In the opener, the Bulls were unable to hold onto a five-run rally, eventually falling to the Rockets, 8-5. The Bulls fell to the Rockets in the nightcap, 18-4.
Trailing 5-2 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, designated hitter Brad Cochrane smashed a three-run homer over the left-center wall for his third home run of the season, tying the contest at 5-5.
In the bottom of the fifth, freshman catcher Tom Murphy started the Bulls' rally by belting a solo shot to dead center, putting the Bulls on the board, 5-1. Senior right fielder Charlie Karstedt then drove in Cochrane off an RBI base hit to right field, trimming back the Rockets' lead to 5-2.
Senior reliever Jeffrey Hains (2-1) recorded his first loss of the season, striking out three batters in 1.2 innings. Starter Chaz Mye struck out eight batters in 7.1 innings.
Cochrane, Karstedt and Murphy each went 2-for-4 in the opener. Cochrane recorded a team-high three RBIs with his homer.
In the opening inning of the nightcap, Toledo jumped out to a 4-0 lead off a two-run shot by designated hitter Dan Sherwood, his second homer of the day.
Senior shortstop Jacob Rosenbeck scored the Bulls' first run off a solo shot to right field, cutting into the Rockets' lead, 4-1.
Trailing 18-1 in the bottom of the eighth with runners at the corners, Karstedt belted a three-run shot over the right field wall for his fourth RBI of the day and fourth home run of the season.
Senior starter Pierre Miville-Deschenes (3-4) struck out four batters in 4.0 innings, recording the Bulls' loss
For the day, Karstedt and Murphy each went 3-for-6 at the plate including a home run apiece. Karstedt led the Bulls with four RBIs followed by Cochrane with three RBIs. Cochrane also added a home run and a pair of doubles.
The Bulls (13-13, 3-5 MAC) will close out their conference weekend series against the Rockets on Sunday, April 11 with the opening pitch at 1:00 pm.