April 12, 2008
Final Stats
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. -
After struggling mightily at the plate in the opener, the St. Bonaventure baseball team woke up the bats in game two to earn a doubleheader split with UMass on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Fred Handler Park on McGraw-Jennings Field.
The Minutemen took game one, 6-1, but the Bonnies rebounded in game two for an 8-3 victory and a series win. The split puts the Brown and White at 17-11 overall on the season and 7-5 in the Atlantic 10.
The big boost in game two came from the bats of junior Brandon Salerno and sophomore Anthony Randich who batted in the cleanup and fifth spot, respectively. All three of Salerno's RBI came with two outs as he delivered a two-run double in the fifth and run scoring single in the seventh. Randich took over the team lead in RBI (36) lead with a 2-for-4 performance at the dish that included four runs batted in. Both of Randich's hits went for extra bases, highlighted by a two-run home run.
Senior Michael Proctor worked an economical five innings in game two to earn the win. Proctor allowed just four hits, struck out two and didn't allow a run en route to improving to 3-3. The Bona bullpen ran into a rough seventh inning, but held UMass in check otherwise. Sophomore Dennis Sherba got the most work, tossing two innings of scoreless relief.
St. Bonaventure's first hit of game two resulted in the contest's first run as junior Kevin Suminski made it 1-0 with an RBI single to score freshman Jamie Wallschlaeger.
Proctor worked a scoreless five innings and received more run support in the bottom half of the fifth. After UMass reliever walked Suminski and hit Randy Moley to load the bases with two outs, Salerno delivered a single down the left field line that scored a pair to make it 3-0. Next up was Randich, who ripped a double to left center to plate another two runs for a 5-0 lead.
The Minutemen took three runs back in the top of the seventh to make it 5-3, but quickly gave those runs back in the Bonaventure half of the inning. Moley started the rally by hustling down the first base line for an infield single with two outs. Salerno made Moley's hustle pay off with a double to score the speedy centerfielder all the way from first. Randich then delivered the big blow, a two-run shot over the center field wall for an 8-3 edge.
UMass went quietly in the eighth and ninth as the Brown and White improved to 7-1 at home this season.
Despite the 6-1 outcome, the opener was an all out pitcher's duel until the eighth inning. St. Bonaventure starter Cody Vincent and UMass starter Bryan Leigh battled to a 1-1 tie after seven full innings.
The Minutemen got to Vincent in the seventh with two runs with two outs for a 3-1 lead. They then added three unearned runs in the ninth to put the game away.
Leigh's complete game improved him to 3-2 on the season for UMass as he struck out eight and allowed three Bona hits.
Vincent also went the distance, marking his second straight complete game in A-10 play. Vincent scattered 10 hits.
St. Bonaventure will look to avenge a pair of losses to Big 4 rival Canisius on Wednesday, April 16, as they welcome the Griffs to campus for a 2 p.m. tilt.
