CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The St. Bonaventure University softball team dropped a pair of games against Bowling Green Saturday, the second matchup serving as the Charlotte First Pitch Classic semifinals.

The Bonnies battled back in the semifinals, closing a five-run deficit with four runs in the sixth inning highlighted by a two-run double from Alexandra Piergustavo.

St. Bonaventure will take on Canisius in the tournament's consolation game at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.

GAME ONE – Bowling Green 8, St. Bonaventure 3 | 
Bowling Green jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning and withstood the Bonnies mounting offense during the middle frames for a morning victory.

The Falcons posted two runs on four hits in the bottom of the second to break a scoreless tie, but the Bonnies avoided further damage when Rylee Hehir forced BG to leave the bases loaded by picking up a strikeout to end the threat.

Bona cut its deficit in half during the fourth. Piergustavo was hit by a pitch to start the rally, moving to third following a double off the bat of Desiree Gonzalez. Piergustavo got the Bonnies on the board by scoring on a passed ball for a 2-1 score.

Bowling Green added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Bona would add a run in the fifth.

Haley Majot singled to left with one out and scored the Bonnies' second run on a double to right center from Morgan Phillips.

The Brown and White threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with no outs, but the Falcons made a call to the bullpen and reliever Kiley Sosby worked her way out of the jam with only one unearned run crossing the plate.

Gonzalez and Phillips each had two hits for the Bonnies while Hehir (0-1) struck out three in four innings of work. Freshman Sam Wood made her collegiate debut, allowing two unearned runs while striking out two in a pair of relief innings. 

Game Two (Semifinals) – Bowling Green 5, St. Bonaventure 4 | 
Josie Borysevicz earned the start in the circle for the Bonnies. She went 5.2 innings while striking out three.

Bowling Green grabbed an early lead with a run in the first, then stormed out to a five-run lead with four runs in the fourth.

The Bonnies were held hitless until the top of the sixth when they found their offensive stroke.

Alissa Karjel led off the inning with a single to center for the first Bona hit, but was eventually tossed out at third for a force out after an error by Bowling Green left her and Blencowe on base safely. A Majot single later loaded the bases with Blencowe at third and Olivia Golay at second. Emma Borysevicz then sent home Blencowe and Golay as the Bowling Green shortstop made an error on the play.

Now down 5-2, Piergustavo later stepped in and doubled home Phillips and Majot to trim the Bowling Green lead to one heading into the bottom half of the inning.

Bowling Green looked like it would earn part of its lead back in the bottom of the sixth. Kristen Hickling came on to pitch for the Bonnies with the bases loaded and two outs, but she worked a line out, ending the threat and keeping the score at 5-4 into the final frame.

But, the Bonnies were sent down in order, ending the game.

All three Bona hits came during the sixth inning.

The Bona defense left nine Bowling Green runners in scoring position.

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