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

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

The Short Story:
The St. Bonaventure baseball team began its three-game series with the Lehigh Mountain Hawks with a win on Sunday night, 5-3.

The Bonnies set the tone in the first inning as they opened up the game to a three-run advantage before the Mountain Hawks were able to bat. Tyler Bell brought in the first runner of the game off a single that scored Cole Peterson. In the next at-bat, Tyler Kirwan notched a two RBI single that allowed Thad Johnson and Bell to touch home. Lehigh was able to get one run back in the bottom half of the inning.

St. Bonaventure pushed its lead back to three in the fourth inning off a Bradley Gresock double that scored Bret Heath, but the Mountain Hawks didn't go down quiet as they added two runs in the bottom of the fifth to put the Bonnies lead to just one run. The Bonnies were able to get an insurance run in the seventh as Tyler Walter tripled that allow Peterson to score from first. The Brown and White closed the game off the heels of freshman pitcher Aaron Phillips, who went the final two innings and only allowed one hit.

Steven Klimek earned his first win of the season. Klimek went seven innings and allowed six hits and one earned run. The senior right hander from Rochester, N.Y. registered four strikeouts. Phillips picked up his first collegiate save.

Nick Macaione for Lehigh picked up his first loss of the season. Macaione gave up eight hits and four runs in four innings of work. 

How It Happened:

• St. Bonaventure started the game off with a bang as they posted three runs in the first inning. Centerfielder Tyler Bell got things rolling for the Brown and White with a single that scored Cole Peterson from second. During the play, Thad Johnson advanced to third on an error by the Lehigh centerfielder.
• With two men on and two outs, Tyler Kirwan singled to drive in Bell and Johnson for the Bonnies' second and third run.
• Lehigh got a run back in the bottom of the first off a Garzillo groundout to the pitcher that scored Pacchioli from third.
• In the top of the fourth, catcher Bradley Gresock doubled that scored Bret Heath to put the Bonnies back up by three.
• The Mountain Hawks added two runs in the bottom fifth off a wild pitch that scored Donovan and a Garzillo single that brought in Scarr. After five, Lehigh trailed St. Bonaventure by one.
• The Bonnies added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Tyler Walter tripled, which scored Cole Peterson from first.
• In the eighth inning, Aaron Phillips came into pitch in relief for Steven Klimek. Phillips ended up working his way into trouble as he had two runners in scoring position with one out. Phillips would then work his way out of trouble as he struck out Faust and forced Donovan to fly out to the shortstop.
• St. Bonaventure clinched the two-run victory over the Mountain Hawks on an Aaron Phillips pick off that caught the runner napping on second.

Beyond The Box Score:

• Freshman pitcher Aaron Phillips picked up his first career save. Phillips came into the game in the eighth and recorded two strikeouts while allowing one hit.
• Klimek registered his first win of the season.
• The Bonnies tied a season high in hits on Sunday with 12.
• St. Bonaventure has now won three out of the last five games. Last season, the Bonnies went 11 games before earning three wins.

Up Next:
The Bonnies retake the field on Monday, March 8 at 10:00 a.m. in Port Charlotte, Fla for game two of the three-game series against Lehigh.