ST. BONAVENTURE (5-25, 2-7 A-10) vs NIAGARA (16-12, 7-5 MAAC)
Wednesday, April 19 – 3:00 p.m.
St. Bonaventure, N.Y. – Handler Park at McGraw-Jennings Field
 
ST. BONAVENTURE at GEORGE MASON (17-19, 4-5 A-10)
Friday, April 21 – Sunday, April 23
Spuhler Field – Fairfax, Va.
TV: ESPN+
 
The St. Bonaventure University baseball team complete its nine-game homestand against Little Three rival Niagara on Tuesday, April 11 for a non-conference contest, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Then, the Bonnies will travel to George Mason for a three-game series, kicking off on Friday, April 21 at 3:00 p.m. All three games this weekend will be available live on ESPN+.
 
FREE BASEBALL

• The Bonnies went to extra innings against Rhode Island on Saturday, falling to the Rams, 5-4, in 10 innings.
• After multiple rallies of their own, the Bonnies took a 4-3 lead to the ninth following a dramatic two-run homer off the bat of Kyle Caccamise to surge ahead after eight innings.
• The Rams were down to their final out in the ninth before Rob Butler smashed a ball to second base that took a wicked hop and allowed the tying run to scamper home from second.
• Rhode Island pushed ahead in the 10th on a one-out homer to straightaway center from Alex Ramirez and held the Bonnies scoreless in the bottom half of the inning to secure the win.

 
STRONG OUTINGS

• The Bonnies picked up great starts from Tripp Breen and Luke Roggenburk this past weekend against Rhode Island.
• As the Friday starter, Breen worked six innings and struck out a career-high 10 batters while only surrendering three runs on six hits as he gave the Bonnies a chance to win once he departed the game. It was his longest outing of the season for Breen so far this year.
• Roggenburk once again gave the Bonnies a great chance to defeat Rhode Island. The sophomore had his best outing of the year with a career-high seven full innings while scattering six hits and allowing only two runs.
• Roggenburk struck out four and did not walk a batter, throwing 63 of his 96 pitches for strikes.
• Reliever Ryan O'Connell pitched two innings out of the bullpen Sunday, pitching two scoreless innings and only allowed one hit with three strikeouts.

 
RANKIE RAKES

• Junior college transfer Adam Rankie has made his presence known in at the plate for the Bonnies this season.
• Currently, Rankie owns a 14-game hitting streak, which is the longest of the season for any Bonnies player. That is the longest by any Bonnies player since 2018 when Ryan MacCarrick posted a 16-game hit streak.
• Over the last 10 games, he has a .318 batting average with 14 hits, while smacking two doubles and driving in four runs.
• Rankie has recorded multiple hits in six games this year.
• For the season, Rankie is third on the team with a .291 average, second on the team with 32 hits, and has scored a team-high 20 runs. He also ranks 40th among all Division I players as toughest to strikeout on the year.

 
PUTNEY POP

• Senior Jack Putney has picked up where he left off from the fall, leading the team in multiple categories at the dish.
• Over his last 10 games, Putney is hitting an even. 400 with a team-high three doubles and six RBIs.
• On the season, the third basemen leads the team with a .317 batting average on 33 hits and has smacked a team-high nine doubles.
• Putney is third on the team with a .360 on-base percentage and 14 runs batted in.
• As a team, the Bonnies has 26 home runs on the year, their most since hitting 27 during the 2017 season.

 
ABOUT NIAGARA

• The Purple Eagles hold an overall record of 16-12 and 7-5 in conference play, taking two of three from Manhattan this past weekend.
• Max Giordano leads the team at the plate with .389 batting average, 10 home runs, nine doubles, and 36 RBIs. Kelly Corl is second the team with a .337 average and seven doubles.
• On the mound, Preseason All-MAAC Team selection Marcus Cashman has made eight starts with a 3.22 ERA and leads the team with 40 strikeouts. Reliever Brady Kobitowich has recorded a team-high 2.95 ERA in 11 appearances.
• In last season's matchups, the Bonnies and Purple Eagles split a home-and-home. St. Bonaventure defeated Niagara at home, 12-2. Jack Putney went 3-for-3 with two RBIs in the game, while Danny Manion hit a three-run homer.
• Niagara was selected to finish fifth in the 2023 MAAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll.

 
ABOUT GEORGE MASON

• The Patriots currently have a 17-19 overall record and a 4-5 record in A-10 play, dropping two of three at VCU this past weekend.
• At the plate, Jordan Smith has a team-high .316 batting average with 10 doubles and five home runs. South Trimble lead the team with 28 RBIs this season.
• All-Rookie Team selection from a season ago Chad Gartland has tallied a 2.67 ERA in 57.1 innings pitched this season, while fellow starter Ben Shield has struck out 67 batters in nine starts this year. Out of the bullpen, Christian Mracna has made 15 appearances with three saves and 27 strikeouts.
• The Patriots took two of three from the Bonnies the last time the two played in 2021. In their lone win in the 2021 series, Jack Putney recorded two hits, while Pierce Hendershot drove in a run.
• George Mason is tabbed to finish eighth in the 2023 A-10 Baseball Preseason Poll.

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