March 8, 2009

Box Score

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The St. Bonaventure baseball team used a five-run seventh inning to earn an 8-4 victory over SIU-Edwardsville in Papa John's Challenge pool play on Sunday afternoon.

The Brown and White improve to 5-3 on the year as they continued their stellar offensive production as of late. The Bonnies have now scored at least five runs in each of their last seven games.

A strong offense combined with a stellar starting pitching performance by freshman Sebastian Bellitto would give St. Bonaventure an easy win. Bellitto earned his first career victory by going six strong innings giving up one earned run on seven hits allowed, while striking out six.

Leading the way for the Brown and White offensively was Kevin Suminski who went 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and three stolen bases. Sophomore Jamie Wallschlaeger was next in line, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI's on the day.

St. Bonaventure would jump out of the gates with a two-run first inning. Suminski would get things started with a leadoff triple in the left-center gap. Wallschlaeger would drive him in with a drag bunt RBI single to make the score 1-0 Bonnies. Freshman Ryan Skellie would keep the rally going by driving in Wallschlaeger on an RBI groundout to make the score 2-0.

The Brown and White would keep a two-run lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning, at 3-1, before they put the game out of reach. Sophomore Nick Cunliffe started the frame with a walk and came around to score on a triple by Brad Steinbach to make the score 4-1. Suminski would collect his lone RBI of the day when he slapped a single back up the middle to increase the Bonnies lead up to 5-1. Suminski would proceed to steal second and third to put himself just 90 feet away from scoring another run. Wallschlaeger would bring him in with a sacrifice bunt that turned into an RBI single when Suminski beat the throw home to make the score 6-1.

St. Bonaventure would receive two more runs in the frame thanks to an RBI double by senior Anthony Randich and an RBI single to right field by senior Brandon Salerno to make the score 8-1.

The Bonnies will return to action tomorrow when they face off against SIU-Edwardsville again in the final game of the Papa John's Challenge. Game time is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.