BROWN AND WHITE BRING HIT TOTAL TO 50 OVER LAST THREE GAMES

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Behind its third straight solid performance at the plate and good middle-relief pitching, St. Bonaventure was able to pick up its first win of the young season with a 7-6 victory over Maine on Thursday at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

St. Bonaventure received a much-needed day off on Wednesday after dropping its first four games of the trip and responded with 15 hits to earn its first win and the 530th of head coach Larry Sudbrook's career. The Bonnies now have 50 hits over their last three games, including six home runs.

The loss drops Maine to 2-6 on the season.

After missing the cycle by a single on Tuesday, junior Brad Steinbach continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-4 with a three-run home run. Freshman Jason Radwan pieced together his second consecutive three-hit afternoon that included his third double in two games and first career home run. Both Steinbach's and Radwan's home runs came in the first inning when the Brown and White took a 4-0 lead.

Junior Jesse Bosnik, sophomore Ryan Skellie and freshman Billy Urban rounded out the multi-hit performers with two hits each. Bosnik and Urban each had a double, while Urban extended his hit streak to five games.

Making his first career start and second appearance of the trip, freshman Eddie Gray tossed five innings en route to the win. Despite leaving with a 5-4 deficit, Gray picked up the win when the Bonnies plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth take the lead back for good. Gray struck out four batters and scattered nine hits.

The Bona three-run fifth was able to hold up thanks to some crafty pitching by the Bona bullpen. Freshman Robert Nalepa pitched a scoreless sixth inning before giving way to sophomore Michael Pease who got the first two outs of the seventh. Senior Cory Sudbrook finished off the seventh and tossed a scoreless eighth in his 61st career relief appearance setting the stage for Steinbach.

Already with three hits in the game, Steinbach took the mound in the top of the ninth looking to complete a solid all-around game. Steinbach ran into trouble, though, and quickly, giving up a run to make it 7-6 with just one out and runners on second and third. With the game-tying and potential game-winning runs in scoring position, Steinbach promptly struck out Maine's No. 3 and cleanup batters to close the game and earn his fourth career save.

The Bonnies will back at it again on Friday with a 4 p.m. showdown against Western Michigan.