ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The St. Bonaventure University softball team split its games in a doubleheader that wrapped up the home-opening series against Atlantic 10 opponent La Salle Sunday afternoon. 

Kelly Farrell smacked a three-run home run in the third inning of game one that helped elevate the Bonnies to an 8-6 win, the team's first conference victory.

Morgan Phillips contributed a 2-for-3 performance with three RBIs in game one to add to the win.

In game two, Desiree Gonzalez delivered the lone Bona offense as she knocked a two-run triple to left field, her third three-base hit of the season.

Game One: St. Bonaventure 8, La Salle 6 | 

La Salle got off to a hot start as it picked up a run in the first inning on an RBI double. 

But the Bona bats responded as SBU strung together three hits and took the lead on an RBI single from Phillips that brought home Alexandra Piergustavo and Hailey Blencowe.

The Explorers then took a 3-2 lead in the top of the third as a two-run home run hit the base of the left field foul pole just above the outfield fence.

Once again, though, the Bonnies responded and put up four runs to take a 6-3 lead. With the bases loaded, Kiera Lorenzo brought home Nicole Antonacci as she reached on a fielder's choice. The very next at-bat, Farrell stepped in and cleared the bases with her three-run homer.

La Salle got one back in the top of the fourth, but it was negated as Phillips drove home Alissa Karjel on an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, bringing the score to 7-4.

Now up 8-4, La Salle mounted a rally in the seventh inning. The Explorers managed four hits and took advantage of a pair of Bona errors to cut the SBU lead to 8-6. But, with the tying run at the plate, Josie Borysevicz induced a line out to Blencowe at shortstop to secure the Bonnies' first Atlantic 10 victory.

On in relief, Josie Borysevicz got the final four outs and earned her first save of the season. Kristen Hickling started for the Bonnies and went 4.1 innings while striking out two en route to being credited with the win. Rylee Hehir tossed 1.1 innings of relief and struck out three as well.

The St. Bonaventure pitching staff and defense stranded nine La Salle base runners in the game.

The Bonnies earned nine hits, getting two apiece from Blencowe, Alissa Karjel, Philllips and Farrell. Piergustavo earned one hit of her own.

Kelly Farrell also swiped two bases.

Game Two: La Salle 6, St. Bonaventure 2 | 

Josie Borysevicz and her counterpart, Reilly Gearheart, took a scoreless tie into the fourth inning before the Explorers broke the silence with a pair of runs in the top half of the frame.

La Salle then broke the game open with four runs in the top of the fifth to go up, 6-0, doing so with five hits – two of which being home runs. 

Down by six in the final inning, Farrell led off the frame with a single, and Alexandra Deal reached base on an error by the first baseman. Gonzalez then brought them both around to score as she roped a line drive to left field and made its way past the diving La Salle outfielder, making it a 6-2 game. But, Gonzalez was stranded on third as the Explorers worked three straight putouts to hold on.

Josie Borysevicz lasted 4.2 innings before being relieved by Hehir, who tossed 1.1 innings. Sam Wood threw the seventh inning.

St. Bonaventure worked six hits, getting two from Elizabeth Enovitch, and one apiece from Gonzalez, Blencowe, Lorenzo and Farrell.

The Bonnies will stay home as Robert Morris comes to Joyce Field on Wednesday for a mid-week doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.

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