April 25, 2008

Final Stats

CINCINNATI, Ohio - After losing a four-run lead in the eighth and ninth innings, St. Bonaventure squandered a golden opportunity in the 12th only to lose the game in the bottom half of the inning as it dropped it's Atlantic 10 weekend series opener at Xavier, 6-5, on Friday afternoon at Hayden Field.

The Bonnies put its first two runners on in the visitor half of the 12th inning, but were unable to take the lead thanks to a strikeout and an inning-ending double play.

A leadoff double by junior Jordan Conley in the bottom half of the inning put the Musketeers in prime position for the comeback win. Conley made a base-running error in the next at-bat, making the first out of the inning at third base, but then-batter Billy O'Connor advanced to second during the play. O'Connor then stole third after freshman pitcher Aron Meindl recorded a strikeout for the second out of the inning. After an intentional walk gave the Bonnies options at first and second to get out of the inning, Xavier's Adam Posono hit what appeared to be a routine pop-up to the infield, but confusion between Meindl and first baseman Josh Sova allowed the ball to drop and score O'Connor for the game-winning run.

The series-opening marathon contest lasted just under four hours and featured a combined eight pitchers and 30 hits. Five of the eight pitchers in the game came from the Bona bullpen as the staff walked just one batter the entire game.

The loss gives the Musketeers (11-5) and two-game lead on St. Bonaventure (9-7) in the Atlantic 10 standings. The second game of the weekend series will begin tomorrow at noon.

The usual game three starter, senior Michael Proctor went six and one-third innings without walking a single batter while striking out six. The lefty scattered nine hits and gave up one run, with most of the damage coming in the first inning.

Freshman Brad Steinbach was the first reliever to enter the game in the seventh and lasted one and a third. Steinbach left the game with the Bonnies up 5-2 in the eighth and handed the ball to senior Cody Vincent. The lefty successfully recorded the final out of the eighth, but then ran into trouble in the ninth allowing the eventual game-winning runs.

Sophomore Cory Sudbrook tossed an effective one and two-thirds that included the last out in the ninth to get the Bonnies out of a jam and force extra-innings. Sudbrook lasted through the 10th before giving way to Meindl who was the tough-luck loser.

St. Bonaventure finished with 12 hits as a team in 44 total at-bats. Five different players finished with multi-hit games, led by freshman Jesse Bosnik's 3-for-4 day at the dish that included two RBI. Senior T.J. Pennino, junior Kevin Suminski, sophomore Nick Cunliffe and freshman Jamie Wallschlaeger all had two hits.

Xavier got on the board in the bottom of the first inning for a 1-0 lead. After giving up four hits, getting out of the bases loaded jam with just one run allowed was a plus for proctor.

St. Bonaventure used the combination of a Kevin Suminski single and a fielding error by the Xavier leftfielder to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the third. With Jamie Wallschlaeger on second, Suminski single to left field and an error by the field allowed the freshman to come around to score.

After Proctor retired the side on strikes in the bottom of the third, the Brown and White took the lead for good in the fourth with another unearned run. Bosnik reached base with two outs after being hit by a pitch and moved to third on Cunliffe's second hit of the day. Xavier was charged with its second error of the game in the very next at-bat as the shortstop booted a routine ground ball by Tristan Mulcahy allowing Bosnik to score for a 2-1 edge.

The Bonnies made it three-straight innings with a run in the fifth, this time manufacturing a run without the aid of the Xavier fielders. Senior Randy Moley delivered a bases loaded sacrifice fly, scoring Ryan Mosher easily from third to make it 3-1.

The lead lengthened in the top of the eighth as Bosnik smashed a two-run single to left field scoring Pennino and Moley for a 5-1 lead.

Xavier forced extra-innings with one run in the eight and three in the ninth for a 5-5 contest.