March 1, 2009

Box Score

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Behind eight strong innings from junior Brian Hardner and a six-run sixth inning, the St. Bonaventure baseball team picked up its first win of the 2009 season with a 10-6 victory over Mount St. Mary's on Sunday at the Papa John's Challenge.

After the Bonnies (1-1) used a six-run sixth to go from four runs down to two runs ahead, 8-6, Hardner pitched three consecutive scoreless innings to clinch the team's first win. The lefty's eight innings featured four earned runs, three strikeouts and three walks, as he picked up his fourth career win on the mound.

The win comes just 24 hours after the Brown and White were handed a 12-0 defeat by Indiana State (8-1) in their season-opener. St. Bonaventure will resume play in West Palm Beach on Monday against NYIT at 1 p.m.

Six different players finished with at least two hits, as the Bona bats pounded out 15 on the afternoon. Freshman Ryan Skellie equaled the Brown and White's entire hit total from yesterday's opener with a 3-for-6 afternoon at the dish. Junior Kyle Gorby drove in a team-high three runs on two singles, while senior Anthony Randich went 2-for-5 with two RBI. Seniors Kevin Suminski and Tristan Mulcahy along with junior Nick Cunliffe all added two hits each.

Trailing 6-2 in the top of the sixth, the Bonnies rallied to score six runs with two outs to take an 8-6 advantage. Sophomore Jesse Bosnik delivered the first big blow with an RBI double that scored Cunliffe, while a throwing error on a grounder hit by B.J. Salerno allowed Suminski to score to make it 6-4. Skellie then drove in Bosnik with an RBI single to right center followed by another RBI single by Gorby that plated Salerno to tie the game, at 6-6. A Randich single loaded the bases for Mulcahy, who then walked, bringing home Skellie to give the Bonnies the lead. The final run of the inning came on a wild pitch that allowed Gorby to cross home from third to make it 8-6.

Hardner put away the Mount in the bottom of the seventh, setting the stage for Bona bats to provide some insurance runs. That's exactly what they did, as Gorby delivered a two-run single to score Suminski and Bosnik, who had reached on a single and walk, respectively. The two runs gave St. Bonaventure the eventual 10-6 outcome.

Junior Cory Sudbrook tossed a scoreless ninth inning to complete the win.