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UMass Comeback Puts Major Dent In Baseball's Postseason Hopes

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ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y.
– Billy Urban hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the 7th to give the St. Bonaventure baseball team (22-23, 12-11 Atlantic 10 Conference) a 5-4 lead, but a three-run 8th inning by Massachusetts (17-28-1, 8-14-1 A-10) paced the Minutemen to a 7-5 win, putting a major dent in the Bonnies' postseason aspirations.

Entering the game, St. Bonaventure's easiest route to postseason baseball was to win its final two games and have Richmond lose one of its last two.

Richmond is facing Saint Joseph's in Philadelphia, and play in that contest was suspended until 10 a.m. Saturday because of rain. In the middle of the 8th inning, Richmond leads the Hawks, 5-2. If the Spiders hold on to win that game, the Bonnies – regardless of what they do in the series finale Saturday – cannot make the A-10 tournament.

Even if Richmond loses, the Bonnies will need the Spiders to drop another game on Saturday, and have Fordham lose its matchup with Xavier. If that all happens, and St. Bonaventure wins its game with UMass on Saturday, the Bonnies will clinch a spot in the tournament.

On Friday afternoon, a Jason Radwan two-run home run in the bottom of the 1st kicked off the scoring for the Bonnies in support of starter Cael Johnson. With Jamie Wallschlaeger on first, Radwan fought off several pitches before pulling his third home run of the year over the left-field wall.

Radwan's homer extended his hitting streak to 13 straight games, and 16 consecutive in A-10 play. The sophomore finished 2-for-4 on the day, while classmate Urban also collected two hits in a 2-for-5 day, and senior Alex Calderon went  2-for-4.

The 2-0 score remained that way into the 5th when UMass got both of the runs back in its portion of the inning.

The Minutemen then took a two-run lead in the top of the 7th off reliever Andrew Revello before Urban answered with his round-tripper in the bottom of the frame. On a 1-0 count with two outs, Urban crushed a fastball over the left-field fence to increase his team-leading RBI total to 40.

Unfortunately for St. Bonaventure, the Minutemen answered the three-run rally with one of their own. The big blow came with Wallschlaeger on the mound and Peter Copa at bat as the right hander drilled his team-leading 11th home run of the campaign well over the left-center fence.

Wallschlaeger was credited with the loss, his first of the year. Pitching in relief of starter Charlie Benson, Leif Sorenson was in line to take the loss but earned his second win of the season by pitching 2.2 innings. Johnson was credited with a no-decision as he pitched six complete innings, scattering seven hits and allowing just two runs, only one of which was earned.

Regardless of the outcome of Saturday's series finale, seniors Calderon, Ryan Mosher, Brad Steinbach and Wallschlaeger will play their final home game at Fred Handler Park. Following the conclusion of the game, those four will take their ceremonial "Last Lap" around the bases. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.

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