April 7, 2004

Box Score

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Despite coming back from an early 4-0 deficit, St. Bonaventure couldn't hold off Penn State's late-inning rally, as the Nittany Lions downed the Bonnies 9-8 at Beaver Field this afternoon.

Penn State jumped out to a 1-0 in the bottom of the first as Clint Eury touched-up St. Bonaventure's Soren Johnson for a one-run double to centerfield.

The Nittany Lions added their second run in the bottom of the third as Michael Milliron scored on double play ball hit by Eury. State added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth as Lance Thompson and Travis Laird scored to make it 4-0.

The Bonnies, who had only one hit through the first four innings, exploded for six runs in the top of the fifth. Junior second baseman Craig King's three run home run capped the inning and gave the Bonnies a 6-4 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Penn State regained the lead as it touched up St. Bonaventure sophomore Matt Agostonelli for three runs to take a 7-6 lead.

St. Bonaventure would rally to tie the game in the top of the seventh and take an 8-7 lead in the top of the eighth. The Bonnies tied the game on a RBI single from senior shortstop Eric Wilson and took the lead on a solo-home run by junior catcher Damian Blakeley.

Penn State rallied in the bottom of the eighth, as Scott Gummo hit a two-run home run off freshman pitcher Brian Pellegrinni to give the Nittany Lions a 9-8 lead.

King earned a lead-off walk for the Bonnies in the top of the ninth, but Eury successfully closed the door on the Bonnies.

King finished the day 2-4 for the Bonnies with three RBI, while Blakeley scored two runs and went 3-4 with a RBI.

Pellegrinni was the hard-luck loser, allowing two runs on three hits in one-third of an inning.

With the loss, the Bonnies fall to 7-9 overall, while Penn State improves to 13-11

St. Bonaventure returns to action Friday, as they begin a three-game series at La Salle. Friday's lone game begins at 4 p.m.