ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The St. Bonaventure University softball team used timely hitting and strong pitching to earn a 7-1 victory over Loyola Chicago in the first game of a three-game series Friday evening at Joyce Field.

The Bonnies (7-16, 2-5 A-10) got on the board first in the bottom of the second when Shannon Costello laced a single through the left side of the infield, scoring Abby Suhr from third.

The Ramblers looked to answer in the top of the third, advancing the tying runner to third, but Emily Phelan was able to induce a groundout to end the inning.

Suhr gave the Bonnies a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the third with an RBI single lined up the middle of the field.

Loyola Chicago (10-17, 4-3 A-10) cut its deficit in half in the top of the fourth with an RBI single to centerfield.

Kennedy Haberl put the Bonnies up 5-1 in the bottom half of the fourth, belting a three-run home run for her second round-tripper of the season.

The Bonnies added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth, scoring on two Loyola Chicago errors.

Phelan went the distance for the Brown and White, striking out two without allowing a single earned run, and scattering just four hits.

Haberl, Suhr and Juanita Wolak each finished with two hits apiece while Madison Stewart added a single.

The teams are scheduled for a doubleheader Saturday at 9 a.m.

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