ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The St. Bonaventure University baseball team split a doubleheader against UMass Saturday afternoon at Fred Handler Park, falling by a run in the opener before scoring early and holding on late to split the day's action.
 
Game 1 – UMass 7, St. Bonaventure 6
The Bonnies dropped a heartbreaker, 7-6, in the first game of the day.
 
Freshman Evan Dieter came up in the bottom of the ninth with the tying run on third and the winning run on second, but UMass reliever Charlie Devin coaxed a fly out to end the game.
 
UMass capitalized off a St. Bonaventure error in the third inning, opening up the scoring to take a 2-0 lead.
 
The Bonnies responded in the home half of the frame with five runs on five hits; the big hit being a two-run double off the bat of Jack Putney to grab a 5-2 advantage.
 
However, the Minutemen regained the lead by posting three runs on three hits in the top of the fourth inning.
 
UMass added insurance runs in the fifth and seventh innings to take a 7-5 lead going into the ninth.
 
Devin picked up his first save of the season to secure the series win for the Minutemen.
 
Adam Rankie finished with three hits at the plate for the Bonnies, while Putney drove in two runs. Out of the bullpen, Bryce Hediger threw 4.1 strong innings in relief, allowing only one run on six hits and two strikeouts.
 
For UMass, Justin Blumenthal went 4-for-5 at the dish, while Zack Given earned his first win in relief by tossing 2.2 innings, giving up a run on three hits.
 
Game 2 – St. Bonaventure 7, UMass 5
St. Bonaventure (7-32, 4-11 A-10) grabbed the series finale in the nightcap.
 
Dieter got the Bonnies on the board first in the second with a two-run double.
 
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Christian Szablewski added to the Bonnies lead with a two-run single to give the Bonnies a 5-0 advantage.
 
UMass responded in the top of the sixth by cutting the deficit to one run, scoring four runs on four hits. Nolan Tichy hit a two-run home run in the inning. Reliever Ryan O'Connell put out the fire before UMass could even the score, however. 
 
Putney smacked a two-run double in the sixth to extend the Bonnies lead to 7-4 with some needed insurance.
 
UMass (10-26, 3-12 A-10) scored a run in the eighth inning, but it would not be enough as the Bonnies notched a 7-5 victory in the series finale.
 
Gabe Watts started the game for St. Bonaventure, throwing 5.1 innings and scattering four runs on five hits along with four strikeouts to earn the win on the hill.
 
Watts was relieved by O'Connell, who picked up the 3.2-inning save out of the bullpen.

O'Connell finished with five strikeouts, only allowing one hit and a run on his way to his second save of the year
 
The Bonnies will play their next eight games on the road, beginning with a midweek non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, May 2. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
 
-----
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.