March 24, 2009

Box Score

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - The St. Bonaventure baseball team used a four-run fifth inning and a five-run seventh to snap a four-game losing streak as it defeated Big 4 rival Canisius on Tuesday afternoon at Fred Handler Park.

The win also put an end to a four-game losing streak to the Griffs, as the Bonnies improve to 8-7 overall heading into its weekend A-10 series at Saint Joseph's. Canisius, on the other hand, slips to 10-11 on the season.

The story of the game was the Bona bullpen, as it kept a potent Canisius lineup off the scoreboard in the middle portion of the game. Junior Dennis Sherba turned in his second solid relief outing in a row, earning the win by giving up just one run over three innings of work. Sophomore Aron Meindl, senior Matt Stewart and junior Cory Sudbrook followed Sherba with scoreless innings of their own. In all, seven different players took the mound for the Brown and White.

Offensive, seven different players collected a hit for the Bonnies, while eight players scored at least one run. Senior Kevin Suminski had the lone multi-hit afternoon, going 2-for-4 with a double, triple, a run scored and an RBI. The teams only other extra-base hit came on sophomore Alex Calderon's first career double.

Canisius plated a run in the second and third innings to take a 2-0. The first run came during Jim Britton's last inning of work, while the run in third came off Sherba.

The Bonnies final figured out Canisius starter Benson Merritt in the fifth inning, touching up the right-hander for four runs on four hits to take a 4-2 lead. Sophomore Brad Steinbach led off the inning with a single and came around to score on an error by the left fielder during a Nick Brennen single. After a single by Kyle Gorby put runners on the corners, Ryan Skellie drove home Brennen with a fielder's choice to the right side. Skellie then scored all the way from first on Calderon's double. Calderon then came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Salerno.

Still leading 4-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Brown and White put the game away with a five-run inning for a 9-2 advantage. Sophomore Jesse Bosnik started the big inning with a bases loaded single that scored two, while Suminski followed with an RBI double. Bosnik eventually came around to score on a passed ball, while Suminski was brought home by a sacrifice fly to right field from Brennen.

Canisius was able to plate three runs in the ninth, but it was too little too late as the Bonnies held on for the win.

St. Bonaventure will look to get on the winning track in A-10 play this weekend against the Hawks. All three games of the weekend set will be played in Camden, N.J. at Campbell's field. The opener will take place on Friday, March 27 at noon.