April 11, 2008

Final Stats

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Not even the threat of rain could cool off a blistering-hot Randy Moley and the Bonaventure offense against Massachusetts Friday afternoon under. The Brown and White exploded for five runs in the third inning to help take the first game of the weekend series, 7-2, at Fred Handler Park on McGraw-Jennings Field.

After having its season-best seven game win streak snapped on Wednesday at Canisius, the Bonnies lengthened their A-10 win streak to four with the victory. St. Bonaventure is now 16-10 on the season and more importantly 6-4 in conference.

The final two games of the series will be played tomorrow as part of a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.

The Bonnies offense was fueled by the senior one-two punch of Moley and T.J. Pennino, who combined to go 5-7 with four runs batted in and four runs scored. Pennino ripped a season-best three hit and scored twice, while Moley stretched his consecutive games with a home run to three with an inside-the-park round-tripper.

Junior Jim Britton improves his season record to 4-2 with the win and is now 3-1 in A-10 games. The 6-foot-4 righty allowed two runs on eight hits in eight innings of work. Freshman Cael Johnson pitched a scoreless ninth to seal the win.

After a pitcher's duel through the first two innings, the Minutemen broke through in the top of the third after a leadoff single. After a bunt moved the runner over to second, Pennino snagged a frozen rope line drive to keep the runner at second but a line drive in the following at-bat broke the scoreless tie. Britton struggled from the stretch, walking the next runner and throwing a wild pitch to the next to put runners on second and third. An intentional walk to load the bases paid off as Britton got out of the jam, yielding only one run.

The Bonnies' five-run third inning started off with a frozen rope hit by freshman Jesse Bosnik that was misjudged by the left fielder, leading to a stand-up double. Freshman Jamie Wallschlaeger attempted to bunt Bosnik over but ended up drawing a walk. Another freshman came through in a subtle way as Ryan Mosher bunted the batters over and set up back-to-back RBI singles by junior Kevin Suminski and Pennino to put the Bonnies ahead 2-1. Moley came up to the plate and split the outfielders on a 3-1 pitch. The centerfielder fell on the play and right fielder fielded it, but the relay throw in was bobbled and the throw home was too high as Moley cleared the bases.

The Bonnies continued in the bottom of the fifth after Pennino hit a line drive single and took second on an overthrow. After Moley drew the free pass and a pitching change for Massachusetts as Mitchell Clegg was replaced by Mitchell Eilenberg, junior Brandon Salerno welcomed the new pitcher with a chopper over the head of the charging shortstop to plate Moley. After a walk to sophomore Anthony Randich to load the bases, junior Tristan Mulcahy added on with a sacrifice fly.

Britton rebounded after a rough third inning and ground outs helped to retire all six batters through the fifth inning. Britton relied on a stellar defense, as he did not strike out a single batter in the game. Strong defense by Mosher at third base and Pennino in left field held the anxious Minutemen offense at bay until the seventh when Massachusetts' Brian Baudinet knocked in his second run of the day.