WASHINGTON, D.C. – The St. Bonaventure baseball team (13-15, 2-7 Atlantic 10 Conference) hits the road this weekend when it travels to George Washington (15-22, 3-6 A-10) for a three-game league series beginning on Friday at 4 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: The Bonnies enter the weekend after being swept by A-10 foe and current league leader Rhode Island at home last weekend.
SCOUTING GEORGE WASHINGTON: GW opened a 10-game homestand with a 10-2 victory over George Mason on Tuesday afternoon at newly renovated Barcroft Park. The Colonials sit in 11th place in the A-10 – one game ahead of the Bonnies – as both teams continue to vie for a top-six finish in the league ledger and berth in the A-10 Championship at the end of May.
BATTLES ON THE BUMP:
GAME ONE PROBABLES: Eddie Gray (LHP) vs. Brain Derner (LHP)
Redshirt junior Eddie Gray (3-2) is second on the team in ERA (4.34) through his eight starts. In 56 innings he's given up 28 runs on 61 hits, walking 21 and striking out 41. Derner (1-6) holds an ERA of 5.33 in 49 innings of work. He has allowed 40 runs on 42 hits, walking 32 and striking out 35.
GAME TWO PROBABLES: Jordan Crane (RHP) vs. Aaron Weisberg (RHP)
Senior Jordan Crane (2-1) is third on the squad with a 5.06 ERA. He's allowed 32 runs on 58 hits, walking 14 and striking out 29. Weisberg (1-4) is third on the Colonials with an ERA of 2.39. In his 52.2 innings, he has allowed 21 runs on 42 hits, walking 25 and striking out 37.
GAME THREE PROBABLES: Cael Johnson (RHP) vs. Tyler McCarthy (RHP)
Redshirt senior Cael Johnson (1-5) sports a 5.22 ERA through his seven starts this campaign. In 39.2 innings, Johnson has given up 33 runs on 42 hits. He's walked 26 and struck out 33. McCarthy is 2-1 with an ERA of 4.15. In 39 innings he has given up 24 runs on 30 hits, walking 31 and striking out 14.
CONFERENCE PLAY: The Brown and White are second in the A-10 with a .297 batting average, trailing only Dayton (.302). They are also third in the conference in fielding percentage (.969). Five Bonnies have a batting average of .300 or better against A-10 opponents: junior Austin Ingraham (.371), senior Nick Brennen (.368), senior Michael Grieco (.353), senior Ryan Skellie (.316) and junior Michael Meredith (.300)
URBAN FEEL: Junior third baseman Billy Urban's .377 batting average is first in the conference this season, and his .509 slugging percentage leads Bona. He also leads the team with 54 total bases, 40 hits, 26 RBI and nine doubles. The Cleveland, Ohio native has reached base safely in 23 consecutive games.
DOUBLE-DIPPING: Junior second baseman Jason Radwan leads the pitching staff in ERA (4.09) and saves (three), and is second on the team in appearances (13). He also sports a batting average of .310 – fourth-best on the Bona roster.
SNAPPED: Until it was broken Sunday against Rhode Island, Radwan had reached base in 41 consecutive games dating back to last season (27 this year).
NEXT UP: Following the set with GW, the Bonnies will travel to Bucknell for a mid-week doubleheader with the Bison on Tuesday, April 24, before returning home for an A-10 series with Saint Joseph's next weekend, April 27-29.
