April 5, 2009
Gane 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Stats
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. -
The St. Bonaventure baseball team dropped both games of its A-10 home-opening doubleheader against George Washington on Sunday afternoon. The Colonials never trailed over the 18 innings on the day, taking the opener, 9-2, and game two, 8-4.
Rain on Friday and snow on Saturday cut the originally scheduled three-game set to a two-game series. The third game can't be made up.
The Bonnies entered Sunday on a season-long six-game win streak, as they fell to 13-9 overall and more importantly 3-5 in the A-10. George Washington (16-14, 5-3) moved two games ahead of the Brown and White in the A-10 standings with the sweep.
St. Bonaventure never seemed to be in sync in the field or at the plate all afternoon. Despite pounding out 10 hits in both games, the Bonnies left 21 runners on base over the two contests. The Bona pitching staff had its problems too, as GW scored a combined four runs in the first inning and held a three-run lead by the fourth inning of both games.
Sophomore Cael Johnson got the nod on the mound in the opener and fell behind 3-0 in the first inning behind a couple of home runs. Trouble struck again in the third for Johnson and the Bonnies, as Brendon Kelliher smashed his second two-run homer of the contest to put the visitors up 5-2.
Johnson settled down over the next three innings, but so did his counterpart Pat Lehman, who improved to 3-1 with the win. Lehman scattered nine hits over his eight innings of work, but held the Bonnies to just two runs, including six straight scoreless innings to end his day.
The loss was the first of the season for Johnson who fell to 3-1.
Game two also saw the Colonials jump out to a lead in the first inning and a 5-1 edge by the top of the fourth. The three-run fourth inning by GW knocked starter Jim Britton of the mound in favor of freshman Sebastian Bellitto. Normally a starter during A-10 play, Bellitto was touched up for three runs over three and two-thirds innings of work.
St. Bonaventure refused to go away, though, and in the bottom of the sixth drew to within 6-4 thanks to an RBI double by freshman Michael Grieco. The hit and RBI were the first of Grieco's career, as the first year catcher ripped a two-out double to right center to score Nick Cunliffe all the way from first.
GW seized momentum back and clinched the doubleheader sweep with two runs in the eighth for the final 8-4 outcome.
Right-hander Eric Cantrell was credited with the win on the mound for the Colonials in game two. Cantrell gave up a run in his first two innings, but help the Bonnies scoreless in their final three at-bats.
Senior Anthony Randich had a team-high four hits on the day, including three in the nightcap. Sophomore Brad Steinbach contributed three singles on the day, while senior Kevin Suminski ripped his fourth triple of the season in the opener and moved into a tie for second all-time in program history with nine career triples.
St. Bonaventure will be back in action on Tuesday, April 7, when it welcomes Le Moyne to campus for a doubleheader. First pitch of game one at Fred Handler Park is slated for 2 p.m. Stay tuned to www.GoBonnies.com for any changes due to weather.
