CHARLESTON, S.C. – The St. Bonaventure University softball dropped a pair of games to open its 2018 season at the Charleston Southern Invitational on Friday. The Bonnies opened 2018 with a tough, 4-3, decision in game one against Hartford. In game two, the Brown and White fell to host Charleston Southern, 9-0, in five innings.

Sophomore Brooke Kane-Walker had a hit in each game to lead the Bonnies.

Game One: Hartford 4, St. Bonaventure 3 

Junior Alexandra Piergustavo got the Bonnies on the board in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to cut the Hartford lead in half, 2-1.

Later in the first inning, Alexandra Deal crossed home plate on a wild pitch to tie the game, 2-2.

Hartford would take the lead back in the top half of the second inning, putting the Hawks ahead 3-2 on an RBI single.

The Bonnies threatened in the bottom of the third when Piergustavo and freshman Grace Perechinsky both singled. However, both runners were left stranded leaving the Bonnies still trailing, 3-2.

An RBI single from Kane-Walker in the bottom of the sixth inning scored pinch runner Nicole Antonacci, tying the game at 3-3. The Bonnies had a chance to take the lead in the sixth after loading the bases, but Hartford would get out of the jam with an inning ending strikeout.

A run in the top of seventh for Hartford would be enough for the Hawks to hold on for the victory, 4-3.

Josie Borysevicz tossed a complete game, allowing four earned runs. She struck five and walked four, while surrendering eight hits.

Game Two: Charleston Southern 9, St. Bonaventure 0 – five innings

Charleston Southern jumped out to an early, 1-0, advantage in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. They added four in the second and four more in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 9-0 lead.

Kane-Walker, Olivia Golay and Elizabeth Enovitch all collected singles for the Bonnies.

Rylee Hehir started the game in the circle for the Brown and White, working 3.2 innings (12 H, 9 ER, 5 K, 4 BB). Grace Van Horn (0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB) came in to finish the game for the Bonnies.

The Bonnies are back in action Saturday in Charleston. The Brown and White play George Mason in a non-conference contest at 9:00 a.m. and Hartford at 11:00 a.m.

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