Final Score: St. Bonaevnture 5 – Lehigh 2
Location: Port Charlotte, Fla.
Records: St. Bonaventure 5-2 | Lehigh 3-5

St. Bonaventure Starters: Cole Peterson (SS), Tyler Walter (1B), Ted Dilts (DH), Thad Johnson (3B), Tyler Bell (CF), Bret Heath (RF), Bradley Gresock (C), Tyler Kirwan (2B), Aaron Phillips (LF), Brandon Schlimm (P)

The Short Story:
The St. Bonaventure baseball team completed the sweep of the Lehigh Mountain Hawks on Tuesday by a score of 5-2 in extra innings.

St. Bonaventure found itself down 2-0 early into the game, but wouldn't quit as the team fought back to tie the game up at two apiece in the seventh inning. The game remained tied until the top of the 11th when Danny Urban cleared the bases for the Bonnies on a three-run double. Thad Johnson came in to close the game in the bottom of the 11th. Johnson put himself in a tough spot as the Mountain Hawks had bases runners on first and second with one out. Johnson went on to strikeout the next batter and then forced the following batter into a groundout to clinch the three-run victory for the Brown and White.

Earning the win for the Bonnies was Aaron Phillips, who threw four innings and recorded five strikeouts and allowed four hits. Phillips came into the game in the seventh inning in relief for Brandon Schlimm. Schlimm notched his first career start on Tuesday and he went six innings and gave up five hits and struck-out one. Johnson picked up his third save of the season.

Kevin Boswick received the loss on the day for Lehigh. 

How It Happened:

• Freshman Brandon Schlimm got off to a rough start in his first career start, giving up a walk and two doubles in the first inning to give Lehigh an early 2-0.
• In the second inning, freshman Cole Peterson worked his second leadoff walk of the game. After a Walter sacrifice bunt, junior Thad Johnson was able to rip one down the line, scoring Peterson and cutting the Mountain Hawk lead to one.
• Schlimm would be in and out of trouble his whole outing, threating with two on in the fifth inning, however, junior Tyler Kirwan was able to make a great play at second base to end the Lehigh threat.
• Freshman Aaron Phillips was able to work a one out walk to start things in the top of the seventh for the Bonnies. Peterson then delivered with a rip through the right side, making it first and third with one out. A Walter groundball to third enabled Phillips to score, tying the game at two.
• Phillips would then relieve his fellow freshman Schlimm, firing a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the seventh.
• In the bottom of the eighth, Lehigh threatened again with a runner on third and two outs, however, Peterson was able to make a backhand snag in the hole and fire a strike to first base to end the inning.
• In the ninth, Phillips would again find himself in a jam after a leadoff double but back to back huge strikeouts again ended the Mountain Hawk threat and send the game to extra innings.
• Brad Gresock lined a one out base hit up the middle to get things going in the eleventh for the Brown and White. A Phillips base hit through the right side and a Peterson walk brought Danny Urban to the plate with the bases loaded. Urban would then smoke one into the gap for an opposite field double putting the Bonnies in front 5-2.
• Thad Johnson was then able to shut the door for SBU, garnering his third save of the season.

Beyond The Box Score:

• Thad Johnson picked up his seventh career save. He now sits alone at third all-time in career saves for the Bonnies.
• Aaron Phillips earned his first win of his collegiate career as he came in as a relief pitcher for starting pitcher Brandon Schlimm.
• This is the first three-game series sweep for the Brown and White since last season when they swept Ohio.

Up Next:
The Bonnies will visit Coppin State On Thursday, March 12 for a doubleheader before they will play a three-game series over two days against Mount St. Mary's on March 14 and 15.