April 20, 2008

Final Stats

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - After a strong offensive showing by both teams in game two, it was the pitchers turn to dominate as the Bonnies closed out their weekend series against Atlantic 10 foe St. Louis with a 4-2 win at Fred Handler Park on McGraw-Jennings Field.

Senior Cody Vincent continued his season-long success on the mound, following up a save on Saturday afternoon with nine strong innings, allowing seven hits while striking out four. The win is the third of the season for Vincent, who now has three complete games.

The series win keeps the Bonnies in the top half of the A-10 as they move to 9-6 in conference play and 19-14 overall.

The Bonnies opened the scoring in the second inning, with sophomore Anthony Randich hitting a towering double to right center to lead off. After junior B.J. Salerno drew a walk, senior Josh Sova bunted Randich over to third. The Billikens squandered a potential inning-ending double play on a groundball by freshman Jamie Wallschlaeger, scoring Randich on the play to crack the scoreless tie. Sova was thrown out at the plate later in the inning as the Bonnies couldn't capitalize on a shaky start to the inning from St. Louis starter Zach Outman.

After being shut down for the next three innings, the Brown and White used a two-out rally to extend their lead in the fifth. Senior Randy Moley drew a walk and stole second with two away and Randich was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. A blown pickoff attempt at second moved Moley over to third. A steal by Randich put two runners in scoring position and Salerno came through in the clutch, hitting a line drive back up the middle to drive in both runners, but he was thrown out trying to extend his single into a double. The runs gave Vincent some much-needed breathing room and a 3-0 lead.

Vincent couldn't take advantage, however, as he loaded the bases up with no outs after a solid start to the game. A rocket line drive down the third base line by Tom Pinnell was caught by junior Ricky Pilliteri to hold off at least a run and then an infield fly rule led to an unorthodox double-play to end the threat in the sixth. The defense came up strong again in the seventh with another inning-ending twin killing to support Vincent.

St. Louis wouldn't go quietly as they put runners on second and third with two outs in the eighth and a single by Pinnell opened the scoring for the Billikens and brought them within one, 3-2. Vincent shut the door to end the inning with the lead intact.

Two straight errors in the bottom of the eighth put runners on first and second with one out. A chopper up the middle by Sova scored Randich from second to extend the lead to two. Freshman Jesse Bosnik hit a ground ball down the first-base line with two outs and runners on second and third but was robbed by St. Louis' Greg Rodgers to end the inning.

After hitting two batters in the final inning, Vincent settled down and finished off his complete game victory for his second conference win.

Next up for Bonaventure is a Tuesday doubleheader against Buffalo before returning home the next day for a nine-inning affair against Bucknell at 3:00. Both games against the Bulls on Tuesday will be seven innings.