April 27, 2008

Final Stats

CINCINNATI, Ohio - St. Bonaventure struggled to produce runs all weekend and it culminated on Sunday with a 4-0 Atlantic 10 loss to Xavier.

The loss marks the second time this season that Bonnies have been swept on the road by a conference foe. St. Bonaventure (20-19) is now an even 9-9 in the A-10, while the Musketeers slide into a tie for first place in the league at 13-5.

The Brown and White will look to bounce back at this week's Big 4 Classic. The Bonnies will take on Buffalo Tuesday at 3 p.m. in opening round at Fred Handler Park. The Classic will then culminate on Wednesday at McGraw-Jennings Field with the consolation and championship games.

Junior Matt Stewart was charged with the loss despite holding Xavier to just two earned runs in a shade over six innings of work. Stewart was let down by his defense in the fourth as the Bonnies two errors led to a two-run inning. Stewart struck out three on the day and scattered seven hits.

Xavier starter Danny Rosenbaum was in control all day against the Bona bats, striking out 12 and walking just two before leaving after eight full innings. Rosenbaum improved to 2-3 on the season and handed the ball over to Brett Greenwell who completed the save.

Junior Brandon Salerno was one of five players to get a hit and the only one to finish with two for the Brown and White.

Rosenbaum retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced and gave up his first hit in the fifth inning, a single by Salerno.

Down 2-0, St. Bonaventure put runners on the corners in the sixth with one out, but Rosenbaum got senior Randy Moley to hit into a double play to end the inning.

Xavier lengthened its lead in the bottom of the sixth as a triple ignited a two-run inning that pushed it to a 4-0 score.

The Brown and White put themselves in position to score again in the seventh with two outs. Salerno and freshman Jesse Bosnik delivered singles and eventually moved into scoring position for a prime scoring opportunity. Like the sixth, the opportunity passed by as Rosenbaum worked out of trouble for the last time by striking out Tristan Mulcahy.

Sophomore Cory Sudbrook tossed a scoreless eighth inning, but the Bonnies failed to threaten in their last at-bat.