CLINTON, S.C. – St. Bonaventure baseball split a doubleheader Thursday to begin a four-game series at Presbyterian.

GAME 1 – St. Bonaventure 2, Presbyterian 0 (7 inn.)

Michael Salina's complete game gem highlighted the game 1 victory.

The right-handed sophomore was nearly untouchable, allowing just two hits while walking three and striking out seven in a 2-0 shutout as the Bonnies took the opener.

The Blue Hose entered the day hitting .308 as a team and scoring nearly nine runs per game in their first eight contests, but Salina surrendered only a first inning single up the middle and a sixth inning poke through the right side. Presbyterian never sent a runner past first base. 

The Bonnies had chances early and often, but left five men on base in the first two frames and runners in scoring position in each of the first five innings.

Bona loaded the bases in the first as David Marshall Jr. walked and Adam Rankie singled to begin the game and Jackson DeJohn also drew a walk with two away, but a strikeout ended the inning. In the second, a hit batter and Paul Vossen single followed by a wild pitch put runners at second and third with just one out, but Presbyterian starter Charlie McDaniel coaxed a strikeout and a flyout to get out of trouble again.

Antonio Cordeiro doubled in the third but was left at second, and Vossen was thrown out attempting to steal home in the fourth. In the fifth, Rankie had a bunt single and Jack Putney walked for runners at first and second with no outs, but again Presbyterian slipped out of the jam.

Finally, the Bonnies kicked down the door in the sixth.

Kyle Caccamise doubled to lead off and Jayce Tharnish delivered a pinch hit triple to right for the game's first run.

In the seventh, a run-scoring single from Harrison Kaufman plated Putney for an insurance run.

Fittingly, Salina struck out his seventh batter of the day for the final out to put the exclamation mark on the win.

He needed 87 pitches, throwing 57 for strikes, and became the first Bonnies pitcher to toss a complete game shutout since Donovan Moffat also did so in the second game of a doubleheader at La Salle in a 2-0 win on April 24, 2021 (7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K).

GAME 2 – Presbyterian 12, St. Bonaventure 6

The Bonnies (3-6) carried over momentum into the start of the second game, scoring twice in the first inning for a 2-0 lead.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Presbyterian turned the tables with two in the first for the tie, then added four runs in each the second and third innings to break it open.

The Bonnies plated four in the ninth on run-scoring hits from Rankie and Marshall, but the early hole was too big to climb out of.

Joel Dragoo drove in five runs and Eliz Lazo had three hits and three RBIs for Presbyterian (6-5). Tristan McGregor earned the win on the mound with five innings of two-run ball, striking out seven.

Luke Roggenburk worked 4.2 innings of relief, allowing two earned runs with three strikeouts and a walk. Gabe Watts pitched a scoreless inning as well.

Friday's game has already been canceled due to rain and cold temperatures in the forecast. The series finale is set for Saturday at noon.

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