Box Score
GREENSBORO, N.C. – A day after coming up on the wrong end of a 13-inning one-run heartbreaker, the St. Bonaventure baseball team turned the tables Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium, pushing the winning run across in the ninth for an 8-7 victory over North Carolina A&T.
Both teams found offense early. The Bonnies grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first when senior Ryan MacCarrick blasted a home run to left, but the Aggies responded with three runs of their own in the home half of the frame for a 3-2 advantage.
St. Bonaventure (4-9) brought the deficit down to one on a run-scoring groundout from Brandon Henshaw in the third, but again North Carolina A&T answered with a run to re-take a two-run edge, 5-3.
With the Aggies (7-12) leading 6-3 heading for the sixth, the Bonnies rallied.
The Bonnies pushed four runs across in the sixth, first scoring on an RBI single from Jeff Palczewski. David Vaccaro later came in to score on a passed ball to pull within a run.
Then, with the bases loaded and two outs, head coach Larry Sudbrook called upon Casey Vincent to pinch hit. The sophomore answered the bell by driving a two-run single to left for a 7-6 advantage as the Bonnies roared back in front.
The hosts got a run back in the seventh for a 7-7 draw heading for the final two innings.
Palczewski started the ninth with a single to left, moving into scoring position when Ben MacDonald put down a sacrifice bunt. After Alex Schutz drew a walk to put runners at first and second, Mike Magnanti hit into a fielder's choice that led to a throwing error from the Aggies shortstop and allowed Palczewski to cross the plate with the winning run.
Donovan Moffat (1-1) set the Aggies down in order in the ninth to lock down the victory. The sophomore left-hander matched his career high with three scoreless innings of relief and he did not allow a hit or a walk while striking out one and throwing 23 of his 35 pitches for strikes.
Palczewski had perhaps his best day as a Bonnie, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. MacCarrick and Vincent each drove in two runs as well.
Braydon Nelson got the start (3.2 IP, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) for St. Bonaventure.
The Bonnies are back in action for the rubber game of the three-game set in Greensboro Sunday at 1 p.m.
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