April 8, 2006

Box Score

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Chalk it up as one of the biggest upset wins in St. Bonaventure baseball history.

St. Bonaventure scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning and then hung on for a 7-6 win over Charlotte on Saturday afternoon at McGraw-Jennings Field.

It was the first Atlantic 10 Conference loss for Charlotte, which fell to 21-9-1 overall and 6-1 in its first season in the A-10. St. Bonaventure improved to 8-8 and 4-3.

The 49ers, who were the overwhelming favorite to win the conference in a pre-season poll of the A-10 coaches, took a 6-5 lead in the fifth inning on a three-run home run by right fielder Spencer Steedley.

The Bonnies, however, took advantage of Charlotte miscues in the seventh. Junior shortstop Josh Perkins was walked by 49ers pitcher Adam Mills, and a fielding error by Charlotte shortshop Mike Ambrose on a ground ball by junior Brian Pellegrini put runners at first and second. St. Bonaventure junior left fielder Joe Rizzo then tied the game with an RBI double down the right field line. Junior third baseman Matt Mardeusz plated the eventual winning run with a sacrifice fly that scored Pellegrini and made it 7-6.

A pair of Bonnies relief pitchers, senior Sean Bruet and sophomore Cody Vincent, combined to hold Charlotte without a hit or a run over the final three innings. Vincent, who is normally a starting pitcher, set down the 49ers in order in the ninth to record his first save. Bruet (1-0) earned the win.

St. Bonaventure got on the board first when Pellegrini lifted a solo home run to left center in the bottom of the first inning. Charlotte took a 3-1 lead with one run in the second and a pair of runs in the third.

The Bonnies came back to score four times in the bottom of the third to go ahead 5-3. Mardeusz plated a pair of runs with a single, and sophomore right fielder T.J. Pennino followed with a two-run double.

St. Bonaventure was out-hit 7-6 in the game. Mardeusz finished 1-3 with three RBI. Rizzo went 2-3 with and RBI and Pellegrini was 1-3 with three runs scored. Bonnies starting pitcher Eddie Williams allowed all six Charlotte runs over 4-1/3 innings before giving was to Jim Britton, who threw 1-2/3 innings.

The Bonnies and 49ers will complete their three-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday. The first game will begin at noon.