JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The St. Bonaventure University softball team split its first two games in the 2017 Green and Gold Classic, claiming a win in game one over Cleveland State.

Alexandra Piergustavo went 4-for-7 in the two games, including a 3-for-3 performance with a double while driving in all three Bona runs in game two.

Hailey Blencowe went 4-for-6 in both games and went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in game one.

Desiree Gonzalez scored three total runs on the day, including two in game two.  

Game one: St. Bonaventure 9, Cleveland State 7 | 

The Bonnies' bats were awoken early as the Brown and White stormed out to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Elizabeth Enovitch, Blencowe and Piergustavo strung together three singles, and Morgan Phillips sent Blencowe and Enovitch home as the CSU shortstop made an error. Alissa Karjel later scored Phillips on a single to center, and Kiera Lorenzo delivered the big hit with a two-run double that scored Karjel and Emma Borysevicz to put SBU up 5-0. Bona scored its sixth run of the inning as Mikayla Short reached on an error to bring home Lorenzo.

Cleveland State then cut the Bona lead in half in the top of the second with three runs, including a home run to left center.

St. Bonaventure got two back in the bottom of the third as Short flied out to center to bring Emma Borysevicz home, and Gonzalez later drove home Karjel on a single up the middle to bring the score to 8-3.

CSU plated one in the fourth and three more in the fifth to cut the Bona lead to 8-7.

The Brown and White got an insurance run in the fifth. Gonzalez worked a one-out walk and then stole second. She moved up to third on a ball put in play by Enovitch, and came in to score as Blencowe drove a singe to center.

A scoreless sixth sent the two teams into the final inning with the Bonnies ahead, 9-7.

On in relief, Kristen Hickling escaped unscathed with runners on second and third to earn the save and secure the Bona win. 

St. Bonaventure worked 11 hits in the contest, with Blencowe earning three and Karjel and Lorenzo hitting two apiece. Gonzalez, Enovitch, Piergustavo and Emma Borysevicz had one each. The 11 hits are the second most the team has earned all season.

Josie Borysevicz started in the circle for the Bonnies and earned her third win of the season. She went 4.1 innings and struck out two. Hickling tossed the final 2.2 innings and struck out one to earn her first save of the season.

The nine runs scored by the Bonnies are the most scored by the Brown and White in a game so far this season.

Game two (5 innings): Jacksonville 14, St. Bonaventure 3 | 

The Bonnies scored first as Gonzalez led off the game with a single through the left side, and Enovitch then moved her over to second. Piergustavo later singled up the middle and scored Gonzalez.

Jacksonville then answered with three runs in the bottom of the first, and opened the game up with six runs in the second to take a 9-1 lead.

Down 14-1, St. Bonaventure got two more in the top of the fifth as Gonzalez reached on an error and Enovitch doubled. Piergustavo then drove them both in with a double to bring the score to the eventual 14-3 final.

Jasmine Petrishin made her first career start in the circle and struck out one. Sam Wood came on in relief, and Molly Hennessy made her first pitching appearance of the season as she got the final four outs for the Bonnies.

SBU earned seven hits in the contest, highlighted by a 3-for-3 performance from Piergustavo. Gonzalez, Enovitch, Blencowe and Karjel also had one each.

St. Bonaventure will play its final two games of the Green and Gold Classic Sunday as they take on Cleveland State at 9:00 a.m. and Jacksonville at 12:00 p.m.

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