Box Score ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – St. Bonaventure led early, but could not hold on as Rhode Island stormed back during the middle innings for an 8-3 Atlantic 10 baseball victory Friday afternoon at Handler Park.
Twelve walks from the Bonnies pitching staff opened the door for Rhode Island as the game began under difficult weather conditions with a frosty light rain falling steadily throughout the early innings.
St. Bonaventure scored a run in the first as Garrett Boldt set the table with a leadoff double, moving to third on a wild pitch and scoring on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Kelder.
The Bonnies grabbed another run in the second as Ben Berger singled, stole second, and scored on another hit from Boldt for a 2-0 edge. Bona threatened for more but would leave the bases loaded in the first and another man was stranded in the second.
Rhode Island surged ahead in the third on a three-run homer from Xavier Vargas. In the fourth, Rhody scored twice without the benefit of a hit, thanks to a hit batter and three walks. Two more Rhody runs came across in the fifth on a single to left-center from Josh Brodeur and the visitors would never look back.
Boldt collected three hits out of the leadoff spot for the Bonnies and Berger had two singles as well to lift his season batting average to .372.
Vargas drove in four runs for the visitors (18-19-1, 6-3 A-10) and Ryan Twitchell got the win with six innings of two-run work on the hill, striking out five.
Brendyn Stillman doubled home a run in the ninth for SBU.
Tripp Breen pitched three innings of relief without allowing an earned run for the Bona bullpen.
The Bonnies and Rams return to action for a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon on ESPN+.
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