MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The St. Bonaventure University softball team opened the 2024 season with four games Friday and Saturday at The Spring Games in Madeira Beach, Fla.
The Bonnies dropped game one to Bellarmine, 10-2, in five innings and fell in the night cap, 15-5, in six innings to Le Moyne.
In Saturday's action, Bona's fell to Siena in the morning matchup, 7-0, while Middle Tennessee State grabbed game two of the day, 9-1.
Game 1 – Bellarmine 10, St. Bonaventure 2 (5 inn.)
The Bonnies jumped out to the early lead when freshman Eleanor Park singled home Olivia Whitecar in the top of the first.
Elyse Graham made it a 2-0 game in the first with a run-scoring groundout that allowed Kennedy Haberl to cross home.
Bellarmine, however, answered with three runs in the bottom half of the first to take its first lead of the day.
The Knights pulled one back with an RBI double off the back of Megan Konermann. Two more runs came in in the inning off of errors.
Bellarmine (2-4) put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth, plating six runs in the frame highlighted by a Chloe Collins grand slam, pushing the Knights lead to 9-2.
The Knights made it 10-2 in the bottom of the fifth on a throwing error, earning the victory.
Emily Phelan earned the start in the season opener, working 3.0 innings and allowing just two earned runs. Tori McGraw worked an inning in relief in her Bonnies debut.
Game 2 – Le Moyne 15, St. Bonaventure 5 (6 inn.)
Le Moyne jumped on the Bonnies, pushing across six runs in the top of the second to take a 7-0 lead.
The Bonnies were able to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the third after Kennedy Haberl drove in Olivia Whitecar. Olivia Moon followed her up with a two-run single to center, making it a 7-3 game.
The Dolphins erupted for five runs in the top of the fifth on a double and pair of singles, taking control of the contest, 12-3.
Kymora Wang and Grace Walker each drove in a run in the bottom of the fifth, but it was not enough as Le Moyne scored three in the top of the sixth, earning the victory.
Kendall Stull earned the start for the Brown and White while Kylie Bickert and Kaylee Grace worked in relief.
Game 3 – Siena 7, St. Bonaventure 0
Siena grabbed the game's first lead in the top of the third when Emmalynn Skaff doubled home a pair of runs.
The Saint tacked on two more runs on a double in the top of the fourth, taking a 4-0 advantage.
Siena added two runs on a Diana Parker single up the middle in the sixth and McKenzie Swinson scored the Saints seventh run on a passed ball in the top of the seventh.
Freshmen Kymora Wang and Amelia Santos registered hits for the Bonnies.
Emily Phelan started in the circle, working 5.0 innings while Kylie Bickert tossed the final two innings in relief.
Game 4 – Middle Tennessee State 9, St. Bonaventure 1 (5 inn.)
After falling behind in the first inning, the Bonnies were able to tie the game at 1-1 after Sidney Rose singled home Kymora Wang.
An eight-run top of the fifth capped off by a Shelby Sargent grand slam saw Middle Tennessee State take home the win.
Wang finished the contest 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
Kylie Bickert earned the first start of her collegiate career while Emily Phelan pitched in relief.
The Bonnies wrap up their first weekend in Florida Sunday, Feb. 25 when they take on Cornell. First pitch is slated for 10:00 a.m.
For the latest news on St. Bonaventure athletics, stay connected on social media. Follow the Bonnies on X @GoBonnies and get softball updates @BonniesSoftball. Keep up with the Bonnies on Facebook /GoBonnies and on Instagram @GoBonnies. Bonnies Softball can be found on Instagram @bonniessoftball.
