April 21, 2007

Box Score

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Rhode Island defeated St. Bonaventure 5-4 Saturday afternoon in game two of their series at Fred Handler Park.

The Bonnies got on the scoreboard first in the third inning. Senior first baseman Brian Pellegrini lined a ground-rule double into right field, scoring catcher B.J. Salerno to give St. Bonaventure the lead. Senior left fielder Joe Rizzo followed with a sacrifice fly that scored right fielder T.J. Pennino for a 2-0 lead for the Bonnies.

The Rams responded by loading the bases with nobody out in the top of the fourth. Following an RBI groundout by Gregg Allen, Bonnies starter Cody Vincent appeared to be out of the jam. The Bonnies had Ryan Cunningham caught between third and home, but the throw hit him, allowing Cunningham to score the tying run.

Rhode Island took the lead for good in the sixth inning. Cunningham doubled home Eric Larson with the go-ahead run. Gregg Allen capped the inning with a two-run homer to right to put Rhode Island up 5-2.

The Bonnies rallied in the seventh. After a single by third baseman Josh Perkins, the Rams went to the bullpen. Center fielder Randy Moley greeted reliever Tim Boyce with an RBI double. After a wild pitch, Salerno hit a sacrifice fly to make it 5-4.

Boyce then settled down, facing the minimum to pick up the three-inning save. Brett Palanski earned the win for the Rams.

Vincent took the loss for the Bonnies to fall to 2-6 on the year. He gave up eight hits and struck out six while throwing a complete game.

St. Bonaventure fell to 5-8 in the A-10 and 13-18 overall while Rhode Island improved to 7-7 in conference play and 10-22 overall.

The last game of the three-game series is set for Sunday at noon.