DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson took advantage of wildness on the hill from St. Bonaventure pitching at the wrong times to score the decisive tallies in a 6-5 decision Friday night to open a three-game Atlantic 10 set.
Davidson (16-15, 7-6 A-10) grabbed a first inning run after drawing three walks, leading to a run scoring on a bases loaded wild pitch.
The Bonnies (9-22, 3-10) answered in the fourth, though, as Joey Calabretti tied the game with a run-scoring triple into the left field corner and he later scored when Joey Bruno jumped on the first pitch he saw, dumping a single to left center for a 2-1 advantage.
The Wildcats played long ball in the fifth to re-take the lead, jumping back in front on a pair of two-run homers from Anthony Torreso and Scotty Edwards.
St. Bonaventure answered, however, with a three-spot of its own in the seventh as Manuel Castro plated a run with a hit through the left side to plate Bruno before Christian LaMothe doubled home two more with two away for the 5-5 tie.
Another Bona wild pitch with the bases loaded turned out to be the difference, though, as the Wildcats saw the winning run score from third on a pitch to the backstop in the bottom of the eighth.
In the ninth, the Bonnies threatened as Chris Hoalcraft led off with a double and stood in scoring position representing the tying run. A strikeout, fly out and a groundout ended the game without any damage, though, as Simon Yochum locked in the win for the hosts.
Castro, LaMothe, Hoalcraft and Calabretti all had two hits apiece as the Bonnies finished with 11 as a team.
David James started and struck out five over 4.2 innings before running into trouble in the fifth. Mark Holm picked up four outs in relief without a run against him. James Capellupo threw two innings of one-run ball with two walks and a strikeout.
Davidson pitching fanned 13 batters on the night, led by starter Wilson Perkins who struck out nine over six innings.
UP NEXT
The Bonnies and Wildcats get back together for game two of the series Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
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