April 24, 2009

Box Score

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - An RBI single by Adam McConnell in the top of the ninth inning broke up a 1-1 game and sent visiting Richmond to a dramatic 2-1 Atlantic 10 series opening win over St. Bonaventure on a sunny Friday afternoon at Fred Handler Park.

The loss slips the Bonnies to 18-16 on the season and more importantly 5-10 in the A-10. The Spiders move above .500 with the win at 18-17 and 7-9 in the conference.

The game featured a pair of sensational pitching outings by each teams starting hurler. Sophomore Cael Johnson was the hard-luck loser for the Bonnies, tossing his fourth complete game in the loss. Johnson scattered nine hits, while striking out five en route to falling to 4-3.

Richmond starter Stephen Owens kept the Brown and White off the board through the first six innings and left the game with the score tied at 1-1. The one run came off the bat of senior Kevin Suminski (Mentor, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) who drilled his third home run of the season over the left field wall to tie the game. Owens gave up just four hits and walked just one over seven and one-third innings of work.

After walking the first batter he faced, Josh Zorn worked his way out of a jam in the eighth thanks to a sensation defensive play by shortstop Victor Croglio that saved the potential winning run from scoring from third. Suminski's ground ball up the middle appeared to have a chance to find its way through the infield, but Croglio gathered the ball and tossed to second base to get the sliding Bosnik.

The defensive play provided a spark in the Richmond bats, as the visitors capitalized off the big play with the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth to take a 2-1 lead. A leadoff walk to pinch-hitter and the eventual game-winning run Andrew Lowry started things. Lowry made his way to second a steal and advanced to third on a groundout before McConnell's single drove him home.

Reliever Brian Alas entered the game in the ninth for the Spiders and put down the Bonnies in order to collect his sixth save of the season.

The final two games of the series are critical for St. Bonaventure's postseason aspirations, as its now a full two games behind the Spiders (18-17, 7-9) in the A-10 standings. Game two will begin on Saturday at 2 p.m. with freshman Sebastian Bellitto taking the mound for the Bonnies, while Richmond will send fellow left-hander Matt Zielinski.

Three of St. Bonaventure's hits on the day came in the extra-base variety. Suminski finished 2-for-4 with a double and his ninth career home run, while junior Kyle Gorby ripped his team-leading ninth double.