March 29, 2008

Final Stats

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Just six outs away from earning a split, the St. Bonaventure baseball team allowed one run in the eighth and one in the ninth as Duquesne came from behind for a 3-2 win to complete the doubleheader sweep on Saturday afternoon.

The Dukes took the first game 10-3 and improved to a perfect 5-0 in Atlantic 10 action with the sweep. The two losses run the Brown and White's losing streak to three games and evens their mark at 8-8 on the year. The Bonnies are now 2-3 in the conference.

After a 3-for-4 performance at the plate in the first game, senior Randy Moley gave the Bonnies a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning of game two with one swing of the bat. Moley's two-run homer gave the visitors their first lead of the game and starter Cody Vincent some much-needed run support. Vincent kept the Dukes at bay until he left with two outs in the seventh inning, scattering eight hits over that span.

With the ball in the hands of the Bona bullpen, Duquesne knotted the score at 2-2 in the eighth as Bill Torre delivered an RBI single off junior Matt Stewart.

After St. Bonaventure rendered little threat in the top of the ninth, the Dukes used an leadoff double by Aaron Janusey to put a runner in scoring position. Reliever Brian Hardner got the next batter to groundout, but in the process allowed pitch-runner Pat Kimutis to move to third base. With the game-winning run at the third, Hardner hurled a wild pitch that made its way past catcher Brandon Salerno allowing Kimutis to score easily.

Hardner was credited with the loss, while Duquesne starter Paul Bugajski earned his first win of the season. Bugajski lasted eight and one-third innings, striking out five while holding a potent young Bona lineup to two runs on just six hits.

The Dukes were in control from the start in game one. Duquesne scored four runs in the first and one in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead.

The highly-anticipate pitching matchup of St. Bonaventure junior Jim Britton and Duquesne junior Ryan Juran went in favor of the home team in the early going.

The Bonnies were able to put runners on base throughout the game, but were unable to take advantage until the sixth and seventh innings. It was Moley getting things started in the sixth as he led off with a single. Moley didn't spend much time waiting on base paths, as sophomore Anthony Randich's double allowed the speedy centerfielder to score all the way from first to make it 5-1. Randich made his way to third on a Salerno single and scored easily on a sacrifice fly by senior Josh Sova, bring the count to 5-2.

Again, it was Moley wreaking havoc on Juran, as his two-out double down the left field line gave the Brown and White life in the seventh. Randich capitalized on the RBI opportunity again, bringing home Moley with a single to cut the deficit to 5-3.

That would be as close as St. Bonaventure would get, as Duquesne plated one in its half of the seventh and four in the eighth to come away with the opening win.

Britton dropped to 2-2 on the year after lasting just five innings. Britton gave up eight hits while striking out six. His counterpart Juran earned the win despite rendering 10 hits.

Moley and Randich combined for five of the team's 10 hits in game one. With at least one hit in each game, Moley extended his hit streak to 19 games, dating back to last season. The Buffalo, N.Y. product saw his 11-game streak with at least two hits snapped in game two.

St. Bonaventure and Duquesne will hit the diamond for the third and final game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.