April 28, 2006

Box Score

ST.BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - John Zinnicker's complete game pitching performance led St. Bonaventure to a 6-3 win over Xavier on Friday afternoon in the opener of the teams' Atlantic 10 Conference series at McGraw-Jennings Field.

Zinnicker scattered nine hits, struck out six and did not walk a batter in his second complete game of the season. The senior southpaw from Painesville, Ohio, improved to 4-2 on the season.

Junior first baseman Brian Pellegrini gave the Bonnies a 1-0 lead with solo home run off Charlie Leesman in the first. It was Pellegrini's ninth home run of the season, a team high.

St. Bonaventure made it 3-0 with a pair of runs in the fourth. Sophomore right fielder T.J. Pennino had an RBI single and sophomore center fielder Randy Moley plated the second run with a sacrifice fly.

The Bonnies broke open the game with three runs in the fifth to go ahead 6-0. Pennino's RBI triple and junior shortstop Josh Perkins' run-scoring single were the key hits in the frame.

Zinnicker took a shutout into the sixth, when the Musketeers scored an unearned run. Xavier catcher Danny Hayden provided the other runs with a two-run homer in the ninth inning.

St. Bonaventure, which has now won five straight Atlantic 10 games, improved to 10-5 in the conference and 17-15 overall, while Xavier fell to 3-13 in the A-10 and 13-32 overall.

The Bonnies totaled 11 hits on the day. Pellegrini, Pennino, junior left fielder Joe Rizzo and sophomore designated hitter Tristan Mulcahy all had two hits apiece. Pennino had two RBI and also scored twice.

The Bonnies and Musketeers will continue their three-game series on Saturday at noon.