May 27, 2004

Box Score

NORWICH, Conn. - St. Bonaventure rallied from a four-run deficit to knock off top-seeded Rhode Island 7-6 in 11 innings on the second day of play at the Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship Thursday afternoon at Dodd Memorial Stadium.

The Bonnies advance to face the winner of Thursday's George Washington-Richmond game at noon on Friday.

St. Bonaventure entered the top of the ninth trailing 6-2. With one out, freshman Kieran Malone drew a walk and advanced to third on a single by sophomore left fielder Dan Bratys. Freshman designated hitter Joe Rizzo followed with a RBI single. Senior shortstop Eric Wilson singled on the next play, loading the bases for senior center fielder Matt Landahl. Bratys scored on Landahl's ground out to make it 6-4.

With two outs and Wilson on second and Rizzo on third, freshman right fielder and All-Conference second team member Brian Pellegrini drove in both runners on a single up the middle to tie the game at 6-6.

Senior Soren Johnson relieved starter Nate Cameron in the bottom of the ninth. The Rams got two aboard on back-to-back singles with two outs. After intentionally walking Ryan Cunningham, Johnson struck out Adam Houston looking to end the threat.

After a scoreless top of the 10th, the Rams threatened with a runner at third with only one out. Thankfully for the Bonnies, Johnson got Chris Stelma to pop out to Malone and Daryl Holcomb to foul out to freshman third baseman Matt Mardeusz.

Bratys led off the top of the 11th with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bratys advanced to third on a sacrifice fly to deep right by Rizzo, and Wilson followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Bratys to give the Bonnies a 7-6 lead.

In the bottom of the 11th, Johnson gave up a two-out infield single to Dan Batz, but was able to preserve the win by getting Cunningham to fly out to junior second baseman Craig King.

"We just took it one out at a time and made (Rhode Island) throw strikes and get us out," Sudbrook said of Bona's rally. "This is a team that never quits and that was a heck of a comeback."

The Rams jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second against Cameron when Houston singled to left field to score Batz and Cunningham.

The Bonnies tied it in the top of the third as Bratys doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on a balk by Frederick. Following a Rizzo walk, Bratys came around to score on a bloop single into shallow right field off the bat of Wilson. Both Rizzo and Wilson advanced on the next play as Landahl reached on an error by Houston. Pellegrini's sacrifice fly scored Rizzo to tie the game at 2-2.

After two and a half scoreless innings, Batz took the first pitch in the bottom of the sixth over the left field wall to give the Rams a 3-2 lead. Cunningham, who singled to right field, came around to score on a RBI single to the right field gap off the bat of Mike Rainville. Rainville added the third run of the inning, beating the tag of St. Bonaventure catcher Damian Blakeley to put the Rams up 5-2. Chris Stelma added the fourth run of the inning, scoring on a RBI double by Dave Savard.

Johnson's three scoreless innings of relief improved his record to 3-3. He allowed four hits and struck out two. Cameron went eight innings and allowed six runs on eight hits.

Bratys collected three of St. Bonaventure's nine hits on the day and scored three times. Rizzo went 2-3 with two runs scored and Wilson was 2-5 with two RBI. Pellegrini was 1-5 with three RBI.

Batz, the A-10 Player of the Year, went 4-5.

St. Bonaventure improved to 27-20 with the win, while Rhode Island fell to 33-19-1.