April 30, 2008
Final Stats
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. -
Making its fifth consecutive appearance in the Big 4 Classic Championship, St. Bonaventure used a six-run fourth inning to claim its second tournament title as it defeated Niagara 9-2 on Wednesday afternoon at Fred Handler Park on McGraw-Jennings Field.
The Bonnies have been a mainstay in the Classic's final game, appearing in the championship every year of its five-season existence. St. Bonaventure (22-19) is now 7-3 all-time in the Big 4 Tournament.
It was a pitching staff by committee for the Brown and White that stole the show for the home team as five different hurlers took the mound over the nine innings. After a two-run first, the Purple Eagles were stymied by St. Bonaventure's relievers who took over in the third and went seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits.
The clan of setup men and closers was led by sophomore Cory Sudbrook who entered in the third and tossed one and two-thirds scoreless innings. Sudbrook then gave way to sophomore Brian Hardner who also contributed the same amount of innings. Hardner benefitted from the six-run fourth and was tabbed with the win to improve to 2-1 on the year. Freshman Aron Meindl contributed his longest and best outing of the season with two and two-thirds of one-hit ball. Freshman Brad Steinbach moved from his post at third base to close the game in the ninth.
Senior Randy Moley provided one of the subtle storylines of the game as he broke 2007 graduate Brian Pellegrini's single-season record with his 69th and 70th hits. Moley's record-tying hit came via an RBI single in the game-breaking sixth inning and the record breaker came in the form of a double down the right field line in his final at-bat. The Lancaster, N.Y. product came into the game fourth in the nation in batting average (.439) and now has a hit in 33 games, including 23 multi-hit performances.
The other six hits came off the bats of four players, highlighted by two-hit afternoons for senior T.J. Pennino and Steinbach. Pennino's day included a double, while Steinbach added an RBI. Senior Josh Sova drove home three runs with two of them coming on a double in the sixth. Freshman Jesse Bosnik went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Niagara took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning of Bona starter Michael Proctor. The lefty recorded his second out of the inning, but then issued his second free pass giving the Purple Eagles life. Proctor then gave up a double to centerfield to Frank Kurnik that brought both runners all the way around to score.
St. Bonaventure cut the deficit in half, 2-1, in the bottom of the second as Steinbach lined a single into left field to score Bosnik from third.
The game changed in the Bonnies' half of the fourth as they plated six runs to turn a one-run deficit into a commanding 7-2 advantage. Bosnik led off the inning with a double and moved to third as Pennino reached base on a fielder's choice that resulted in no outs. The big play of the inning came next, as freshman Jamie Wallschlaeger hit what appeared to be a routine groundball and possible double play ball to second that was bobbled allowing Bosnik to score and both runners to stay on base. The error led to a variety of different scoring chances for the Bonnies as their other five runs came on one hit, a hit batsman, two sacrifice flies and a throwing error after a stolen base.
The wild inning didn't faze Hardner or Meindl as the combined to put the Purple Eagles down in order in the fifth and sixth.
The Bona bats made noise for the final time in the bottom of the sixth as Sova smacked a delivered a double down the leftfield line to score Suminski and Moley for the 9-2 outcome.
Canisius defeated Buffalo, 8-5, in the consolation game. The Griffs improved to 32-10 on the season and 8-2 in Big 4 Tournament play. The Bulls slipped to 13-29 with the loss.
St. Bonaventure will look to parlay the momentum from the past two days into the weekend as it hosts Atlantic 10 foe La Salle. The three-game set will begin on Saturday instead of the usual Friday first day and will start at 3 p.m.
