April 11, 2009

Box Score

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Behind a complete game five-hitter by sophomore Cael Johnson and opportune hitting, the St. Bonaventure baseball team turned away visiting Xavier, 8-2, in the third and final game of three-game Atlantic 10 series on Saturday afternoon at Fred Handler Park.

The win clinches the series for the Bonnies and improves their mark to 15-10 on the season and 5-6 in A-10 action. The Brown and White have won eight of their 11 A-10 series, including seven of the last eight, at Fred Handler Park since 2007.

The complete game victory is the second in conference play this season for Johnson, who improved to 4-1 and lowered his ERA to 3.08. All five hits given up by Johnson came in different innings, while he walked just one and struck out three.

Despite having just seven hits, the Bonnies made good on their scoring opportunities when they could, evident by them leaving just three runners on base. Junior Nick Cunliffe made the most of his RBI chances; driving in a career-high and team season-best five runs on the afternoon on two hits. Redshirt freshman Alex Calderon delivered the other big blow in the fourth inning with a two-run single.

After being held hitless his opening seven at-bats of the series, senior Anthony Randich had a double and single in the middle portion of today's game that ignited both of the big innings. Sophomore Ryan Mosher collected a pair of singles for the third straight game, going 2-for-4.

Xavier starter Nathan Mutch had everything working in the early going, retiring 12 of the first 13 Bona batters he faced over the initial four innings. During that span, the Musketeers scored the first run of the game in the top of the third to take a 1-0 advantage.

The Bonnies finally got to Mutch in the fifth and in a big way, knocking the right-hander off the mound with four runs through just one out in the inning. Randich led off the inning with a double to left centerfield to start the rally. After a walk to Nick Brennen and single by Mosher loaded the bases, Calderon laced a two-run single down the left field line to give the Brown and White their first lead, at 2-1. The bases reloaded for Cunliffe just two batters later and the centerfielder didn't disappoint, bringing home the other two runs with a double to right center to make it 4-1.

St. Bonaventure put together its second consecutive four-run inning in the sixth to expand the lead to 8-1. A two-out walk to freshman Michael Grieco with the bases loaded brought home the first run of the inning. Cunliffe then stepped to the plate with the bases still loaded and singled to center field. During the player, the center fielder slipped while trying to make the catch allowing all three runs to score.

With a commanding lead behind him, Johnson really buckled down over the final four innings, allow just two base runners en route to the victory.

St. Bonaventure will head north for a trio of Big 4 contests early next week. The Bonnies will head to Niagara for a pair of seven-inning games on Tuesday, April 14 and then will go back to Buffalo on Wednesday to take on Canisius. First pitch of game one at Niagara is slated for 2 p.m.