ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – For the St. Bonaventure baseball team on Saturday afternoon, the last out proved to be the toughest one to get as visiting Fordham rallied for five runs with two outs in the ninth for a 12-10 victory on Senior Day at Handler Park.
The day started in bright sunshine, but raindrops were falling by the time the Bonnies held their traditional Last Lap postgame as the Class of 2026 took their final trip around the basepaths: Chris Hoalcraft, David James, Ryan Klementowski, Gilbert Saunders III, Tom Wilkie, Andrew Ayers, Conor Wolf, Tristan Ciampa, Alex Hebenstreit, Ryan Kucy and Derek Duval.
Fordham pulled ahead early, scoring twice in each the first and third innings.
Joey Donnelly snuck a two-RBI double inside the bag at first and down the right field line to plate two in Fordham's initial trip to bat. Two innings later, Fordham scored twice more following a Bona's error.
The Bonnies started chipping away in the third with the help of their senior class.
Alex Hebenstreit got the home club on the board by punching a run-scoring single to left which followed an RBI hit by freshman Christian LaMothe. Bona's three run frame closed with a sacrifice fly from Ryan Kucy. Bona's left the bases loaded, however, leaving them trailing by a run.
Fordham extended the lead on the 30th career homer from Tommy McAndrews as he golfed a rising rocket out to left-center for a two-run bomb and a 6-3 advantage.
Bona's started pulling closer once more when Hoalcraft drove his 12th career homer out to left for a 6-4 score. Later in the fourth, a Rams fielding error allowed a run to cross as the Bonnies got back within a tally.
The home team finally pulled ahead in the sixth on a game-tying double from Joey Calabretti before Antonio Cordeiro's sac fly gave the Bonnies a 7-6 edge.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Tim Ford singled home a run in the seventh for a 7-7 deadlock.
Anthony Fernandez came through in the home half with a double over the head of Fordham's left fielder. Two batters later, Manuel Castro's second double of the day made it a two-run lead, bringing Fernandez across the plate.
Fordham saved its best for last in the ninth, down 9-7.
After the first two Rams batters were retired, Mason Dean found himself in a two-strike hole as Fordham was down to its final strike. Dean, however, responded with the first of back-to-back hits through the right side, followed by a walk to load the bases.
Ernie Little's infield single forced in a run before Taylor Kirk put the Rams in front by plating two with a hit to left. McAndrews completed the two-out rally with another two-RBI smash, leaving the Bonnies stunned.
Calabretti belted a solo homer in the last of the ninth for his 14th of the year, tying for second in program single-season history.
It would not be enough, however, as the Rams held on for the season finale victory.
James Capellupo started and worked 6.2 innings, allowing five earned runs with seven strikeouts. Mark Holm picked up four outs without a run across in relief.
Bonnies catcher Antonio Cordeiro continued to make the program single-season record for runners thrown out his own by tossing out four attempted base stealers on the day, finishing with 34 on the year.
Fernandez and Castro finish the season tied for the team lead in batting average with both players hitting .330 while Fernandez was the only Bona player start all 50 games. Castro paced the Bonnies in RBIs with 45, tied with Calabretti.Â
Fordham completes its season at 25-30 (15-15) while the Bonnies finish 13-36-1 (7-23).
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