Courtesy of GoBonnies.com
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. –Sophomore Brandon Schlimm threw another gem, senior Thad Johnson carved out a piece of St. Bonaventure baseball history and the Bonnies produced enough offense for a 3-0 win over George Mason Friday afternoon at Fred Handler Park.
Schlimm (6-4) struck out a career-high 12 batters while allowing just four hits and three walks in 8.1 shutout innings. Johnson came on in the ninth for the final two outs to take over the program’s all-time saves lead as the Bonnies moved to 22-18-1 overall and 7-9 in Atlantic 10 play.
A run-scoring groundout by Cole Peterson to bring home Jared Baldinelli, who had earlier singled, gave Bona a 1-0 lead in the third.
Junior catcher Tommy LaCongo gave the Bonnies insurance in the sixth, driving a two-run double out to right center, scoring both Johnson and Tyler Walter.
From there it was all Schlimm as the right-hander struck out at least one Mason batter in every inning. Schlimm had trouble with just one man in the Mason order – leadoff man Michael Smith, who walked twice and singled a pair of times. Only one other batter – catcher Garett Driscoll – reached multiple times against Schlimm, getting aboard on a walk and a single. Tyler Nelin collected a single as well.
Schlimm did not surrender an extra base hit during the afternoon and he also produced four 1-2-3 innings. He lowered his season ERA to 1.96 with the outing, and moved to 4-1 with a 1.52 ERA in six conference starts this spring.
After Schlimm struck out the leadoff man in the ninth, Driscoll walked on eight pitches to end the sophomore’s day at 127 pitches. Johnson then entered and coaxed a fly out, and following a Bonnies fielding error, a pop up on the infield to end it.
Johnson picked up his fifth save of the year and his 17th overall, breaking a tie with Brian Pellegrini (2004-07) for Bona’s all-time saves lead.
LaCongo finished the day with two doubles while Johnson also produced two hits.
The two teams do battle again in game two of the series Saturday at noon.
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