ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – St. Bonaventure built a four-run lead through the first three innings and held on late to secure an Atlantic 10 series victory over visiting Fordham with a 4-3 win Friday afternoon at Handler Park.
Harrison Kaufman got the scoring started with an RBI single in the first, plating Adam Rankie who began the frame with a single to right.
Bona's plated three runs in the third to build on the advantage.
Jayce Tharnish doubled and scored on a run-scoring single by David Marshall Jr. Kaufman then walked and the runners advanced on a Fordham balk, setting the stage for Morgan Little.
Little delivered the game-winning two-run homer less than 24 hours prior and lined what turned out to be the game-deciding hit for the second consecutive day. With the infield drawn in, he drove a hit just past the extended glove of the Fordham second baseman, scoring both Marshall and Kaufman.
The early offense would be enough thanks to more strong Bonaventure pitching.
Junior Luke Roggenburk (3-0) was outstanding, matching his season-long outing of a week prior with 7.1 innings of three-run ball. He walked one and struck out six.
Fordham got two runs back on a two-run homer to left in the fourth by Madden Ocko, then threatened with runners at the corners in the seventh before Roggenburk worked out of the trouble.
In the eighth, Cian Sahler scored on a single from Daniel Bucciero. A stolen base put the tying run in scoring position, but reliever Kade Walker picked up a strikeout and a ground out to preserve the lead.
Walker worked around a two-out walk in the ninth to score his first career save by recording the game's final five outs.
The two teams wrap up the 2024 season Saturday at noon with the Bonnies honoring their nine seniors postgame.
GAME NOTES
- Adam Rankie registered his 22nd multi-hit game of the season by going 2-for-4. Now with 71 hits on the year, Rankie broke a tie with Brian Pellegrini's 2006 season for fourth in Bona single season history and the most hits by a Bonnies player in a season since Jason Radwan delivered 75 in 2013.
- Rankie also became just the eighth player in Bonaventure history to post over 100 total bases in a season (101). It's the 12th time in school history that a player has reached the century mark for a season – Pellegrini did it all four years of his career and fellow St. Bonaventure Athletics Hall of Fame member Joe Rizzo did so twice. Rankie is the first Bona player to achieve the feat since both Jesse Bosnik (142) and Nick Brennen (108) did so in 2010.
- Roggenburk has pitched 14.2 innings allowing just four runs with 11 strikeouts and three walks in his last two outings of the season.
- Freshmen Gavin Constantine and Antonio Cordeiro each posted hits.
- The Bonnies have now more than doubled their win total from last year, improving from eight to 17 victories thus far.
------
For the latest news on St. Bonaventure athletics, stay connected on social media. Follow the Bonnies on X @GoBonnies and get baseball updates @BonniesBaseball. Keep up with the Bonnies on Facebook /GoBonnies and on Instagram @GoBonnies. Bonnies Baseball can be found on Instagram @BonniesBaseball.
