Location: Fred Handler Park | St. Bonaventure, N.Y.
Records: St. Bonaventure: 16-29-2, 3-21 A-10 | VCU: 33-22, 14-10 A-10

St. Bonaventure Starters: Cole Peterson (SS), Tyler Walter (1B), Aaron Ballmer (DH), Thad Johnson (3B), Dylan Dunn (C), Tyler Bell (CF), Jonathan Diaz (LF), Randy Delanoy (2B), Bret Heath (RF), Brandon Schlimm (P)

The Short Story:
The St. Bonaventure baseball team fell in its final game of the season against the VCU Rams on senior day, 7-2.

The Rams set the tone in the first inning when they knocked a three-run homerun over the left field to put them out ahead by three runs before St. Bonaventure had a chance at the plate. The Bonnies tallied two runs in the fourth off the bats of seniors Jonathan Diaz and Randy Delanoy. VCU went on to add four more runs in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings to put the game out of reach for the Bonnies.

As a senior tradition, Coach Larry Sudbrook started all six of his seniors: Aaron Ballmer, Tyler Bell, Randy Delanoy, Jonathan Diaz, Dylan Dunn and Bret Heath. Ballmer, who is usually a relief pitcher, made his lone apperance at the plate in the first inning. Ballmer worked the count to 2-1 before hitting a bouncer to the first baseman for a groundout. The other five seniors each recorded a hit on the day, including Diaz and Delanoy whose lone hits drove in Dunn and Bell. 

The seniors took their final lap around Fred Handler Park after the conclusion of Saturday's game.  

How It Happened:

• The Bonnies fell behind early as freshman pitcher Brandon Schlimm allowed two VCU batters to walk. After the two walks, Darian Carpenter hit a towering shot to left field that cleared the fence for a three-run homer.
• St. Bonaventure made the game interesting in the bottom of the fourth with their seniors driving in two runs. Jonathan Diaz singled to right field that moved Tyler Bell to second and Dylan Dunn to home. In the next at-bat, Randy Delanoy doubled down the left field line to score Bell. After four innings of play, the Bonnies trail 3-2. 
• VCU gave itself breathing room in the top of the sixth when Walker Haymaker singled down the right field line for two runs.
• The Rams went on to add two more runs to seal the five-run victory.

Beyond the Box Score:

• Despite not recording a hit on the day, Thad Johnson finished his junior season leading the team with 67 hits, 189 at-bats, 13 doubles, 31 RBIs, 91 total bases and a .354 batting average. The Frewsburg, N.Y. native's 67 hits and 189 at-bats now place him seventh and 10th all-time in a single season in their respective categories. Johnson is also second all-time in a single season in saves with eight, as he tossed a total of 31.1 innings in 18 apperances and only allowed five earned runs for a 1.44 ERA. 
• Senior Tyler Bell ran his way into the record books on Saturday. With Bell's two stolen bases in the sixth and eighth innings, the center field now sits at eighth all-time in stolen bases with 42. This season the Cornwall, N.Y. native had 21 stolen bases, which puts him eight all-time in a single season, as well.
• Joining Johnson and Bell to start every game for the Bonnies this year was freshman Cole Peterson. Peterson batted .277 in his first collegiate season. The shortstop recorded a team-high 34 runs, while also tallying 49 hits and 14 RBIs.