Courtesy of GoBonnies.com
DEL RAY, Fla. – A three-run eighth inning rally and game-winning 10th inning sacrifice fly sent Maine past the St. Bonaventure baseball team in an extra innings heartbreaker, 6-5, on Saturday afternoon at Little Fenway Park.
Junior transfer Ryan MacCarrick had his best game in Brown and White, in just his fourth contest with the Bonnies, with a team-high three hits and starter Brandon Schlimm bounced back from a tough first outing with seven solid innings.
That was enough to give the Bonnies a 5-2 lead heading for the eighth, but Maine would rally late.
The Bonnies got the scoring started with an unearned run in the second. After MacCarrick doubled to left with one away, he remained at second following a ground out. The Black Bears appeared to be out of the jam, but an error at shortstop allowed MacCarrick to come home for the 1-0 lead.
One inning later, MacCarrick helped keep the lead in tact with a tremendous defensive play. Following a leadoff walk, Brandon Vicens ripped a ball into the left field gap. MacCarrick made a diving stop, robbing Vicens of extra bases. The Bonnies junior transfer then delivered a strike to first to double off the runner.
Maine pulled ahead in the third, however, on a two-out, two-run homer off the bat of Jeremy Pena for a 2-1 score.
Bona had the tying run at second in the fourth and fifth, but could not break through.
Things changed in the sixth, however, as the Bonnies finally found the clutch hitting they had been looking for. The first three batters reached as David Hollins and Aaron Phillips both walked before MacCarrick got on base with a bunt single. With one away, David Vaccaro put Bona back on top, ripping a bases-clearing double to left to change the complexion of the game. T.J. Baker then drove in the fourth run of the inning with a ground out to plate Vaccaro for a three-run advantage.
St. Bonaventure held that 5-2 edge until the eighth when the Black Bears rallied for three runs to tie.
In the eighth, Maine sent eight men to the plate and scored three times to tie. The Black Bears appeared primed to move ahead with the potential leading run at third with no outs, but reliever Roman Wild coaxed a double play ball and a fly out to escape further damage.
In the 10th, Hollins singled with two outs but did not advance past first. In the home half of the inning, Christopher Bec singled with one out and moved into scoring position by stealing second. An intentional walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases, allowing Hernen Sardinas to win the game on a fly ball to right, scoring Bec.
Schlimm had no decision after allowing three runs on three hits in his seven frames, striking out six with three walks. Wild (0-1) was charged with the loss, surrendering two runs on five hits in 2.1 innings of relief with one strikeout.
Reliever Connor Johnson earned the win for Maine with a scoreless 10th on the hill.
The two teams renew acquaintances Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
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