April 21, 2006

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. - Tristan Mulcahy's solo home run in the ninth inning gave St. Bonaventure a 5-4 win at Atlantic 10-leading Rhode Island on Friday afternoon at Beck Field.

Mulcahy, the Bonnies' sophomore designated hitter, drove an 0-1 pitch from Brett Palanksi over the left field fence to break a 4-4 deadlock. It was his third homer of the year.

In the bottom of the ninth, Bonnies senior relief pitcher Matt Agostinelli allowed a leadoff single to Wayne Russo but then retired the heart of the Rams' lineup in order. Agostinelli coaxed a fly ball from Scott Brown and then struck out both cleanup hitter Ryan Cunningham and Chris Parkinson to end the game.

St. Bonaventure snapped its three-game losing streak and ended Rhode Island's eight-game winning streak. The Bonnies improved to 14-14 overall and 8-5 in the Atlantic 10. Rhode Island, which entered this weekend's series in sole possession of first place in the A-10 standings, dropped to 22-7 and 9-3.

Despite managing only five hits in the game, St. Bonaventure took a 4-2 lead through six innings. Trailing 1-0, sophomore right fielder T.J. Pennino tied the game with an double that scored junior second baseman Kieran Malone. Later, Pennino scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by junior shortstop Josh Perkins.

Junior third baseman Matt Mardeusz made it 4-1 in the top of the sixth with a two-run homer, his third of the year. Rhode Island came back with single runs in the sixth, seventh and eight innings to tie the game at 4-4.

Agostinelli (2-0) picked up the win after he threw two innings in relief of Bonnies sophomore starter Cody Vincent. Agostinelli allowed one run on two hits and struck out four. Vincent threw seven strong innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and just one walk.

The Bonnies and Rams will continue their three-game series with games at noon on both Saturday and Sunday.