BUFFALO, N.Y. – The St. Bonaventure baseball team (20-23) concludes its non-conference schedule on Tuesday with a doubleheader against Big 4 rival University at Buffalo (15-32) beginning at Noon.
Earlier this season, the Bonnies swept a doubleheader from UB at Fred Handler Park, winning game one, 7-6, and game two, 8-4. In the opening contest, Jason Radwan delivered a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 8th to give Bona the win. On the day, Radwan went 4-for-6 at the plate with four runs scored and three RBI.
Dating back to last season, Bonaventure has won four straight games over the Bulls, who enter on a two-game losing streak. The doubleheader will also represent the conclusion of UB's non-league schedule for the season.
St. Bonaventure is coming off a series victory over Atlantic 10 foe Temple, thanks to late-game heroics on Saturday which led to a 9-8 Bona's win in the 11th inning. After Austin Ingraham tied the game at 8-8 on a monstrous two-run home run to center, Eric Jutca drove in the game-winning run with a double into the right-center gap.
Ingraham put on an offensive show during the three-game series, hitting .455 and carrying an on-base percentage of .647. In the first game, he drove in a season-high four runs. In game two, the Cleveland native did not collect a hit, but instead drew four walks, representing a game-high of any Bona player this year. In the series finale, he collected three hits on the day, including a triple and a single, and his eight total bases for the game are the most of any Bonaventure player in a contest this season. Ingraham scored no fewer than two runs in each game, finishing the weekend with seven runs scored.
Cameron Carney is expected to get the start in game one of the doubleheader for the Bonnies. The freshman last pitched on Saturday against Temple, tossing three shutout innings in relief of starter Eddie Gray. The right hander will be looking for his first win of the campaign and will be making his second start. Over 16.2 innings, Carney has struck out 14 batters and opposing batters are hitting just .242 against him.
For the Bulls, Matt Pollock leads a pack of six hitters who are currently connecting at a .300 or better clip. Despite having just 15 wins, batting has not been an issue for Buffalo as it is hitting .301 as a team – second-best in the Mid-American Conference. On the mound, however, the Bulls have a team ERA of 6.11 – second-worst in the MAC.
Following the doubleheader with UB, the Bonnies hit the road for their final A-10 series of the year at Charlotte, beginning on Thursday and concluding on Saturday.