YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The St. Bonaventure University baseball team dropped a pair of contests on the road at Youngstown State Saturday afternoon in the first action of the 2021 season.

In game one, The Bonnies tried getting a rally going in the top of the ninth but fell short, 6-4.

Pierce Hendershot went 2-for-3 in the second half of Saturday's doubleheader to lead the Bonnies.

GAME 1 – Youngstown State 6, St. Bonaventure 4
Ben Berger singled home a run in the top of the ninth, bringing in the score to 6-3 in an attempt to spark a St. Bonaventure late-game rally.

Branden Myers was next to the plate and drew a walk to bring the Bonnies within two, 6-4.

Gary Clift Jr. entered the game for the Penguins, however, closing the game out on the mound and earning the save.

The Bonnies jumped on the scoreboard first when Danny Manion singled home Tyler Kelder in the top of the second.

Youngstown State's Steven D'Eusanio quickly responded, blasting a ball over the fence for a home run, tying the game, 1-1.

The Penguins plated a second run in the bottom of the fourth on a wild pitch and a third run in the sixth from a sacrifice fly off the bat of Padraig O'Saughnessy, giving YSU a 3-1 edge.

Manion cut the Bona deficit to one with a sacrifice fly of his own in the top of the seventh.

Youngstown State blew the game open in the bottom half of the seventh on a three-run home run from Jeff Wehler.

Elijah Baez got the start for the Bonnies, working six innings and allowing just four hits. Baez struck out three and walked two on the afternoon. Kyle Caringi tossed two innings of relief, striking out one and allowing four hits.

GAME 2 – St. Bonaventure 7, Youngstown State 1
D'Eusanio belted his second home run of the afternoon in the bottom of the second, giving Youngstown State an early edge, 1-0.

It was not until the seventh that the Bonnies would answer.

Myers stepped to the plate and laced a double to right-center, scoring Kevin Higgins to tie the game, 1-1.

The Penguins broke open what had been a pitcher's duel with a five-run seventh inning on the back of two wild pitches, a two-RBI single and a sacrifice fly, giving Youngstown State a 6-1 edge.

Youngstown State added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to seal the win.

Donovan Moffat earned the start in game two, tossing six innings and allowing just one run on six hits. The redshirt senior also struck out seven Penguin batters along the way. Tripp Breen pitched in relief, going two innings surrendering four hits and six earned runs.

The Bonnies and the Penguins conclude their three-game series Sunday afternoon in Ohio. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m.

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