SERIES STATS (PDF) | GAME 3
BOX SCORE | GAME 3 BOX SCORE (PDF)
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — A five-run fifth inning and 3.1
scoreless innings from the bullpen helped St. Bonaventure selvage
the final game of the weekend Atlantic 10 series at Saint Louis
with a 7-6 win on Sunday afternoon at the Billiken Sports
Center.
The Brown and White's second five-run fifth inning of the series
was highlighted by a grand slam from junior Jesse
Bosnik that gave them a 7-3 lead and enough run
support to survive a three-run sixth inning by the Billikens. The
combination of senior Cory
Sudbrook, sophomore Jordan
Crane and freshman Billy
Urban was enough to limit a potent SLU lineup to just
one hit and three base runners of its last three at-bats.
The win improves St. Bonaventure's overall record to 14-24 on
the season and 6-12 in the A-10. The home conference loss is just
the second of the season for Saint Louis, who slips to 23-22 and
10-8 in the league.
Bosnik's first career grand slam was a part of his 3-for-5 day
at the dish that featured two runs scored and four RBI. With his
19th multi-hit game of the season, Bosnik made a move
into the top 10 in single-season history for hits (65), home runs
(10) and RBI (51). Bosnik leads the team in every offensive
category except walks and has reached base in 36 of 38 games this
season.
For the game, the Bonnies out-hit the Billikens by a 9-7 margin,
but earned just two walks compared to the eight they issued to SLU.
Sophomore Michael
Grieco was the only other Bona player with a multi-hit
afternoon. Junior Brad
Steinbach returned to center field and scored two runs
from the leadoff spot.
Both teams plated all of their runs in just two at-bats, as St.
Bonaventure took an early 2-0 lead with two runs in the top of the
first. Steinbach led off the game with a single which was followed
by a single by Bosnik two batters later. Steinbach and Bosnik then
moved to second and third base, respectively, after completing a
double-steal. The duo was brought home right after the steal on a
base-hit by Urban through the left side.
Sophomore starter Nick
Brennen kept the Billikens off the board until the
bottom of the fourth when a three-run inning gave the home team
their first lead at 3-2.
St. Bonaventure bounced back in its very next at-bat, though,
breaking the game open and regaining the lead for the last time
with the five-run fifth inning. All five runs scored without an out
being recorded, as back-to-back singles by Grieco and junior
Jamie
Wallschlaeger followed by Steinbach and freshman
Jason
Radwan being hit by pitch set the stage for Bosnik.
Bosnik's grand slam sailed over the left field wall and was the
last pitch thrown by Saint Louis starter Jerry Mancuso, who gave up
seven earned runs over four innings.
The SLU bullpen was equally impressive over the final five
innings, limiting St. Bonaventure to just two hits and no runs. The
Billikens drew within one in the sixth, plating three runs off of
Brennen in his final inning to cut the deficit to 7-6. Sudbrook
recorded the final out of the inning with runners on second and
third when he got SLU home run leader Danny Brock to fly out to
left field.
Sudbrook returned for the first out in the seventh before
handing the ball over to Crane, who worked the final two outs of
the inning and a scoreless eighth. Ubran came on in the ninth to
retire the side in order for his fourth save of the season –
the most by a Bonnie since 2007.
Brennen worked 5.2 innings en route to his second win of the
season. The appearance was the second of the series for Crane,
while Sudbrook's scoreless relief appearance was his
15th of the season.
The Bonnies have now played four straight one-run games thanks
to all three games of the series being decided by one run. The
four-game streak marks the first time since the 2004 A-10
Championship run that the Bonnies have played four consecutive
one-run contests. St. Bonaventure has played 10 one-run contests
already this season.
Up next for St. Bonaventure is a mid-week nine-inning game at
Cleveland State on Wednesday, May 5. First pitch is slated for 3
p.m.
