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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Alex Schutz posted three hits and added three RBIs, but the St. Bonaventure University baseball team fell to Central Connecticut State, 4-3, in 12 innings Saturday afternoon in the Snowbird Classic.
The Bonnies were able to jump out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning.
After Kevin Higgins and Ryan O'Connor reached on back-to-back singles, Daniel Stauffer got aboard on an error to load the bases with one away. Two batters later, Schutz stepped up and roped a bases-clearing double for one of his three hits on the afternoon, giving the Bonnies a three-run advantage.
The Blue Devils got one back in the bottom of the fourth with a Jack Nolan RBI ground out.
Nolan brought the game within one in the sixth with an RBI single, bringing home Buddy Dewaine. CCSU would tie the game at 3-3 an inning later in the seventh when Chandler Debrosse connected with one for an RBI double.
The game remained tied for the next four and a half innings.
In the bottom of the 12th inning, Matthews put himself in scoring position with a one-out double. Two batters later, Jake Siracusa stepped to the plate with the winning run at third and his ball on the left side of the infield prompted a play at the plate. The Blue Devils runner beat the throw from third to send CCSU to victory.
Sophomore Braydon Nelson tossed 6.1 innings in his second start of the season. He allowed just four hits and struck out six batters on the afternoon. Murphy O'Brien tossed 5.2 solid innings in relief. Despite taking the loss, the junior righty struck out four Blue Devils while only giving up two hits and one run.
Schutz added another double and a single to pace the Bona offense. Sam Fuller, Tyler Kelder and Brandon Henshaw all collected one hit. All nine Bonnies starters reached base safely in the contest.
The Bonnies are back in action for the third and final game against CCSU in Florida Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.
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