March 21, 2009

Box Score

DAYTON, Ohio - For the second straight day it appeared the St. Bonaventure baseball team was going to rally for a win and for the second straight day they were struck by heartbreak, this time falling in the ninth inning, 7-6, against Dayton on Saturday at Time Warner Stadium.

The Bonnies took a 6-4 lead into the bottom half of the ninth inning, but failed to hold on as the Flyers rallied with three runs in their final at-bat to improve to 2-0 in the Atlantic 10. The loss drops the Brown and White to 7-6 overall and 0-2 in league play.

The third and final game of the series will be played at Athletes In Action Field in Xenia, Ohio on Sunday afternoon. Freshman Sebastian Bellitto is the scheduled starter for the Brown and White with first pitch slated for noon.

Sophomore Cael Johnson lasted into the ninth inning and wound up with the no decision in his third start of the season. Johnson had it all working over the first five innings before a four-run sixth inning got the Flyers on the board. In all, Johnson gave up six runs on six hits and struck out four.

The hard luck loser was sophomore Michael Pease, who entered with one out in the ninth and the Bonnies leading 6-5.

Pease gave up a double to the first batter he faced, allowing the tying run to score all the way from first to make it 6-6. A costly error and intentional walk loaded the bases with one out. St. Bonaventure was able to get the second out of the inning on a force out at home, but a walk to Ryan Nevill brought home the game-winning run.

St. Bonaventure posted another strong day at the plate with 13 hits, but again was hampered by leaving 11 runners on base throughout the course of the game

Senior Anthony Randich led the way with a 3-for-5 day at the dish, followed by multi-hit afternoons from junior Kyle Gordy and sophomores Jesse Bosnik and Brad Steinbach. It marked the first time in Steinbach's young career that he has posted back-to-back multi-hit games. Both of Gorby's hits were doubles, while Bosnik laced a two-bagger of his own.

St. Bonaventure built a 3-0 lead with one run each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Johnson allowed just five base runners over the first five innings.

Things changed in the sixth, as the Flyers touched up Johnson for four runs to take a 4-3 edge. Dayton's big inning was highlighted by a leadoff home run and a two-run double.

The Brown and White responded in the top half of the seventh, taking back the lead with two runs on sacrifice fly outs by Gorby and sophomore Ryan Mosher to make it 5-4 in favor of the visitors.

Johnson returned to form in the seventh and eighth innings, retiring six of the seven batters he faced.

The Bonnies added what they thought was an insurance run in the ninth, as freshman Ryan Skellie singled home Gorby, who doubled earlier in the inning.