May 18, 2006

Box Score

ST.BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Joe Rizzo hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning and St. Bonaventure went on to a 5-3 win over Richmond on Thursday afternoon in the opener of the teams' Atlantic 10 Conference series at McGraw-Jennings Field.

It was the Bonnies' 17th conference win of the season, breaking the school record of 16 set in 2002. St. Bonaventure improved to 25-18 overall and 17-7 in A-10 play. The Bonnnies remained in second place in the A-10 standings, one-half game behind Rhode Island (17-6), who defeated UMass 3-1 on Thursday.

Rizzo, a junior outfielder from Rochester, N.Y., erased a 3-2 deficit when took a pitch from Ja Jones over the right field fence for his 10th home run of the year. Jones walked sophomore center fielder Randy Moley and junior first baseman Brian Pellegrini to set the stage for Rizzo.

Bonnies senior starter John Zinnicker went 7-1/3 innings before turning the ball over to senior Matt Agostinelli.

With the 5-3 lead and one man on for Richmond in the eighth, Agostinelli allowed a single to Vince Riggi. Agostinelli then retired Matt McKenna on a soft liner to second baseman Kieran Malone and pinch hitter Ryan Metzroth on a fly out to Moley.

Agostinelli then set down the Spiders in order in the ninth to earn his fourth save.

Zinnicker scattered nine hits and struck out six in winning his sixth consecutive decision. The southpaw improved to 7-2 on the season.

St. Bonaventure took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when junior designated hitter Matt Mardeusz doubled and Agostinelli drove him home with a single through the left side. Richmond (21-32/11-14) tied the game on Matt McKenna's RBI single in the fourth, then went ahead 3-1 with a pair of runs in the fifth. Ben Zeskind and Alex Wotring laced back-to-back doubles off Zinnicker and Wotring later scored on a throwing error by Bona shortstop Josh Perkins.

The Bonnies totaled only six hits to Richmond's 10 on a cool, rainy afternoon. Agostinelli, who started the game at third base, went 2-3 with two RBI including a solo home run in the fifth inning. Rizzo, Pellegrini and each finished 1-3. Moley went 1-2 with two walks and a run scored.

Game two of the series is scheduled for Friday at noon and can be heard live on GoBonnies.com All-Access.