April 15, 2007

Box Score

ST. BONAVENTURE, NY - Heavy rains washed out the first two days of the weekend series between St. Bonaventure and Saint Louis, but the two teams flooded the Billiken Sports Center with offense on Sunday as they combined for 26 runs on 45 hits in an Atlantic 10 Conference doubleheader split.

The Bonnies picked up the win with a 9-4 decision in game one, but lost game two as the Billikens rallied late for a 7-6 victory. The third and final game of the series was cancelled due to weather and time restrictions.

St. Bonaventure received over seven strong innings from starting pitcher Cody Vincent, who struck out seven batters and allowed four runs in the opening game. Sophomore Jim Britton threw 1.2 scoreless innings of work after relieving Vincent (2-4) with one out in the eighth.

The score was knotted 1-1 in the fourth inning until senior left fielder Joe Rizzo drove a two-run homer over the fence in right field. Senior second baseman Kieran Malone led off the seventh inning with a solo shot to center, and right fielder Brian Pellegrini added a three-run blast of his own just four batters later to put the Bonnies ahead 7-1.

Saint Louis tallied a run in the bottom of the seventh and tacked on two more in the eighth to cut the Bona lead to 7-4, but Pellegrini's second round-tripper of the game plated two more runs in the ninth to provide the final margin of victory.

In game two, St. Bonaventure (11-16, 5-6 A-10) scored four runs in the first inning and led 6-0 in the sixth frame, but the Billikens (8-28, 4-7 A-10) eventually tied the score at 6-6 in the eighth thanks to a pair of home runs from catcher Bill Musselman. After shutting down the Bonnies in the ninth, Saint Louis first baseman B.J. Rodrigue scored Blake Bratchner for the game winning run with a two-out double to left center.

Pellegrini went 5-10 with six RBIs and two home runs on the day, while Rizzo finished 3-9 with three RBIs. Shortstop Kevin Suminski also enjoyed a strong performance at the plate, going 5-10 with two runs scored.

St. Bonaventure returns to action with a doubleheader against Buffalo on Tuesday. Game one begins at 2 p.m. with the second game starting immediately after.