LEXINGTON, S.C. – St. Bonaventure used timely hitting in the late innings to win the opening contest of a twinbill vs. Morehead State Saturday afternoon at Lexington County Stadium before the Eagles won in walk-off fashion in the nightcap.

The series was originally slated to be played at Morehead State before cold temperatures in the forecast for Kentucky forced the teams to move to Lexington, S.C. The Bonnies made the 700-plus mile bus trip on Friday, but showed little ill effects from the long trek with solid play in Saturday's doubleheader.

GAME 1 – St. Bonaventure 6, Morehead State 3
The Eagles led after three innings when Hunter Thomas rocketed a third inning two-run homer to left for the first offense of the day.

That score stuck until the sixth when the Bonnies finally broke through.

St. Bonaventure picked up its first hit of the day with two outs in the sixth – and it was clutch.

Harrison Kaufman broke up the Eagles no-hitter with a double down the left field line to score a pair of runners who got aboard via free passes.

With the game tied 2-2, St. Bonaventure put together the winning offense in the seventh.

Conner Vercollone led off the frame with a walk, moving to scoring position by stealing second. A fielder's choice later in the inning brought him home to break the tie and then Chris Hoalcraft provided the thunder.

Hoalcraft smashed his first home run of the year out to right for a two-run shot – and ultimately the game-winning blast.

Vercollone provided insurance with an RBI single in the eighth.

Morehead State sent the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Luke Roggenburk coaxed back-to-back groundball outs to end the threat.

James Capellupo turned in a quality start with 5.2 innings of two-run ball, striking out six. Alex Barger got the win by recording four outs while Roggenburk locked down his second save with two scoreless innings for the final six outs.

GAME 2 – Morehead State 1, St. Bonaventure 0 (F/7)
Morehead State won a pitcher's duel to force a split of the day's action.

The only run of the seven-inning game crossed the plate in the last of the seventh as a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt put the winning run into scoring position.

JJ Dutton played the hero out of the nine spot in the order, doubling down the left field line to score Andy Cisneros with the game-winning run.

The Bonnies (4-2) did not send a runner past second against Morehead State pitching. Mike Gunning, Morgan Little and Vercollone all had singles to account for Bona's three hits.

Kamden Hawks pitched five hitless innings for the Eagles (3-2). Will Grimmett earned the win with two innings of scoreless relief.

For the Bonnies, Michael Salina was excellent as the starter as he did not allow a run over his five innings of work. Salina scattered four hits and struck out seven while walking two.

Gabe Watts (1-1) threw 1.1 innings out of the bullpen with a strikeout.

QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH JASON RATHBUN
"Our pitching gave us a chance to win two games today and that's encouraging for us. Our bats were cold today, but we're confident in their ability. Morehead State won 37 games last year and they are a very good program. We have a chance to win the series Sunday and hopefully we can be in this position a lot this year."

UP NEXT
The Bonnies and Morehead State wrap up the three-game series Sunday at 11 a.m.

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