PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The St. Bonaventure University baseball team opened the 2018 season Friday morning and could not overcome five errors despite a strong start in a 9-5 setback vs. Chicago State in the Snowbird Classic.

The Bonnies did not have to wait long for offense, scoring twice in the top of the first. Ben MacDonald singled home a run with an RBI knock to center and David Vaccaro came home on a wild pitch for the 2-0 lead.

Chicago State (3-1) got a run back in the second and grabbed the lead with two runs in the third when Tyler Lowe homered and another run crossed the plate unearned.

A run in the fourth and four more in the sixth gave Chicago State control.

Tyler Kelder picked up his first collegiate RBI with a sac fly in the third while Casey Vincent and Jake Miknis each also had their first RBIs as well with a double and a sac fly respectively in the seventh as the Bonnies attempted to rally.

An 8-5 deficit would be as close as the Bonnies would come, however, as Chicago State added a run of insurance in the eighth and Bona went quietly in the ninth despite a leadoff single by Kelder.

Brandon Schlimm (0-1) started and struck out three in 2.1 innings (3 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K) while Roman Wild (3.0, 9 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) and Donovan Moffat (2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) also saw work in relief.

The Bonnies finished with six hits on the day as Kelder, Vincent, MacDonald, Mike Magnanti, Brandon Henshaw and Alexander Ferlenda all had one hit apiece.

St. Bonaventure returns to action against Rutgers on Saturday at 1 p.m. Live stats are available here.

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