Courtesy of GoBonnies.com
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – A two-run homer off the bat of sophomore Aaron Phillips capped a three-run eighth inning, sending the St. Bonaventure baseball team to a come-from-behind 4-2 win over Saint Louis Thursday afternoon at McGraw-Jennings Field.
The Bonnies entered the eighth down a run, tying the game before Phillips stepped to the plate. Phillips then pounded a two-strike offering well over the fence in left for perhaps Bona’s biggest hit of the season.
St. Bonaventure (24-19-1, 9-10 Atlantic 10) entered the day a game out of a spot in the Atlantic 10 Tournament picture and called upon sophomore starter Brandon Schlimm to keep his recent momentum.
The reigning Co-Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week didn’t disappoint, holding Saint Louis (20-29, 10-9) off the scoreboard for the first six innings while running his scoreless inning streak past 19.
Bona nearly took a lead in the first when Thad Johnson drilled a pitch to the wall in left, but his bid for a two-run home run was thwarted by wind blowing in.
Finally the hosts broke through following an RBI infield single in the fifth from Cole Peterson, using a Billikens error for the first run of the game. Taishi Terashima reached on a single to right center with two outs, then moved to third when a pickoff throw from Billikens starter Devin Mahoney kicked away down the right field line. Peterson’s ground ball to the right of the second base bag was enough for him to beat out the throw and allow Terashima to come home.
Saint Louis responded by loading the bases with no outs in the seventh, tying the game on a hit batter before Trent Leimkuehler gave the visitors the lead on a sac fly for a 2-1 score.
Mahoney left the game after seven innings without allowing an earned run and reliever Brett Shimanovsky immediately surrendered a single to right center by Peterson. Shimanovsky was lifted for Nick Vichio (1-3) who coaxed a groundout, allowing Peterson to move up into scoring position. An overthrow from the Saint Louis second baseman on a ground ball put Johnson on base while Peterson raced home for the tie, setting the stage for Phillips’ heroics.
Schlimm (7-4) was again excellent, tossing his third complete game of the year, scattering five hits while allowing two runs. He surrendered just one extra base hit on the day, walked one and struck out seven.
Peterson delivered three hits with Terashima also adding a pair of singles.
The Bonnies and Billikens are now slated to play a doubleheader Friday beginning at noon due to inclement weather in the forecast this weekend. Bona will honor its seniors following the completion of the doubleheader.
GAME NOTES: Schlimm’s season ERA now stands at 1.97 and he is 5-1 with a 1.60 ERA in seven Atlantic 10 starts … Peterson turned in his third three-hit game of the year … Phillips’ homer was the second of his Bona career, with his first coming at Niagara last month … the Bonnies pitching staff has allowed three or fewer runs in 25 games this season.
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