CHARLOTTE, N.C.  – The St. Bonaventure University softball team opened up its 2017 season with a thrilling victory over Canisius, 3-2, in game one of a doubleheader at the Charlotte First Pitch Classic behind a Hailey Blencowe game-winning home run and a complete game from Josie Borysevicz in the circle.

The Bonnies then dropped a 4-1 decision to host Charlotte later that evening, bringing their record to 1-1 after the first day of the 2017 season.

Desiree Gonzalez put together a strong performance in the first two games, going 4-of-6 at the plate with a two-run triple.

Game One: St. Bonaventure 3, Canisius 2 | 

Borysevicz and her counterpart in the circle battled in a pitcher's duel through the first six innings. The Bona junior allowed just two base runners on two hits in the first six innings of work.

The Bonnies finally broke the silence in the sixth.

Emma Borysevicz pinch hit to lead off the inning and worked a walk, and then Morgan Phillips singled to right field. Alexandra Piergustavo advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt to put the two runners on second and third for Gonzalez. The senior responded, as she ripped a triple to right field to bring home both runners.

Canisius answered in the home half of the inning, tying the game on a two-run home run, and the two teams entered the final inning locked at 2-2.

The tie wouldn't last long, though, as Blencowe snapped the tie with a leadoff home run to left center.

In the bottom of the seventh, Canisius put itself in position to tie the game as they had runners on first and third with just one out. But, the Bonnies escaped the jam as Lorenzo ended the game by starting a double play as she fielded a grounder, tagged the runner advancing to second and threw out the runner at first.

Haley Majot, Morgan Phillips and Blencowe had two hits apiece. Majot and Kelly Farrell each swiped a base as well. St. Bonaventure showed discipline at the plate, working three walks while only striking once.

Borysevicz went the distance and surrendered two runs on five hits with a pair of strikeouts and no walks.

Game Two: Charlotte 4, St. Bonaventure 1 | 

The Bonnies managed a run in the final inning but ultimately fell to Charlotte in the second game of the day as the 49ers earned an early lead and never looked back.

Kristen Hickling started for St. Bonaventure in the circle and went six innings. Hickling and the Bona defense stranded eight Charlotte runners on base throughout the game.

Gonzalez provided most of the five-hit Bona offense as she went 3-for-3 at the plate.

Rylee Hehir came on to relieve Hickling in the seventh. In her first career inning of work, the freshman surrendered one run and stranded two on base.

St. Bonaventure grabbed its lone run of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Nicole Antonacci pinch ran for Piergustavo, who worked a leadoff single. Antonacci made her way around the bases, eventually scoring on a fielder's choice by Alissa Karjel to bring the score it the eventual final of 4-1.

The Bonnies will continue on in the Charlotte First Pitch Classic against Bowling Green at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow. SBU will then play in the semifinals later on the afternoon at a time to be determined.

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