ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The St. Bonaventure University baseball team fell, 7-5, to UMass in game one of the three-game Atlantic 10 series Friday at a rainy Handler Park.
 
After starting at 10 a.m. in an attempt to beat the rain, Carter Hanson drew a bases loaded walk in the top of the first to open up the scoring for UMass, but Bonnies starter Tripp Breen was able to work out of the jam with an inning-ending double play.
 
The Bonnies moved ahead in the bottom half of the inning by answering with a two-run single off the bat of Thomas Grilli to take a 2-1 advantage.
 
Grill struck once again for the Bonnies with a single through the right side to plate Jackson DeJohn and extend the lead to 3-1.
 
UMass (9-25, 2-11 A-10) responded in the top of the fourth, striking for three runs on three hits to retake the lead, 4-3.
 
The Minutemen added to their lead with an RBI double from Nolan Tichy.
 
As the rain began to whip around the field,  St. Bonaventure threatened in the bottom of the sixth, getting two runners on. UMass reliever Sam Belliveau worked out of the jam, however, to hold the lead.
 
A run in the seventh and eighth innings helped gave the Minutemen a 7-3 advantage.
 
The Bonnies (6-31, 3-10 A-10) would not go away quietly in the ninth as DeJohn hit his seventh home run of the season with two outs.
 
Following DeJohn's round-tripper, Jack Putney smacked a single, Mark Darkajy drew a walk, and another single by Grilli loaded the bases for Chet Szablewski, trailing by two runs.
 
However, UMass reliever Mikey Jensen got Szablewski to ground out to third and secure a 7-5 victory for the Minutemen and earn the save.
 
Thomas Grilli led the Bonnies with a 4-for-5 day and three runs batted in. Out of the bullpen, Liam Devine threw a solid five innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and five strikeouts.
 
At the plate, Justin Blumenthal finished with three hits for the Minutemen, while Sam Belliveau worked three scoreless innings in relief.
 
The Bonnies and Minutemen play game two of the series tomorrow at noon.
 
 
-----
Stay connected with St. Bonaventure athletics through social media. Follow the Bonnies on Twitter @GoBonnies and get baseball updates @BonniesBaseball. Keep up with the Bonnies on Facebook /GoBonnies and on Instagram @GoBonnies.