Courtesy of GoBonnies.com
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Entering Saturday’s game at Saint Louis, St. Bonaventure senior Danny Urban owned one at-bat on the season and had thrown a pair of innings out of the bullpen through 14 games. Saturday, though, Urban was the unquestioned hero for the Bonnies, not only delivering the game-winning single in the 12th inning, but also earning the win on the hill as Bona prevailed over the Billikens, 6-5, in a dozen innings.
Urban showed all the poise of a senior in the second of a three-game set between the Atlantic 10 rivals, twice pitching his way out of situations where Saint Louis had placed the winning run into scoring position.
When he stepped to the plate for the first time on the afternoon in the top of the 12th with a runner at first and two outs, Urban came through with the deciding blow. After Cole Peterson singled through the right side to lead off, he remained at first base following a pop up and a strikeout. Urban then drove a 1-2 pitch to the left center gap, allowing Peterson to race all the way home from first and break a 5-5 deadlock.
Freshman Donovan Moffat then worked a perfect bottom half of the inning to preserve the victory.
St. Bonaventure (7-8, 2-3 Atlantic 10) led 5-1 heading for the seventh thanks to early offense. The Bonnies put up a three-spot in the second inning as a well-placed bunt from Jared Baldinelli scored Aaron Phillips from third for the game’s first run. Later in the inning, Sam Fuller roped a triple to bring home Baldinelli before scoring himself on an error.
Two more Bonnies runs crossed the plate in the fifth as David Vaccaro brought in a run with a base-knock through the left side before a run-scoring ground out by Phillips.
Freshman starter Casey Vincent made the lead stick, pitching well enough to earn the victory. He ran into trouble in the seventh, however, as the Billikens struck for two runs and threatened for more by loading the bases. He delivered a huge strikeout to end the threat, however, and preserve the lead.
Saint Louis (16-5, 1-1) continued to chip away, scoring a run each in the eighth and ninth. The Billikens appeared poised to win the game in the ninth, loading the bases with no outs. Phillips, who was on in relief, limited the damage by coaxing double play ball up the middle which tied the game, but allowed the Bonnies to force extra innings.
The Billikens put the potential game-winning run in scoring position in both the 10th and 11th – Alex King stood on second with one away in the 10th following his leadoff single, but Urban delivered a pair of fly ball outs to retire the side. In the 11th, a walk and sacrifice bunt put another Billiken runner at second, but a strike out and fly out from the Bonnies senior reliever put out the fire.
In all, the Bonnies registered 14 hits led by three from Baldinelli. Peterson, Vaccaro, Phillips and Ryan MacCarrick each had two apiece.
Urban threw two scoreless frames, striking out one while allowing just one hit.
Vincent picked up a tough-luck no decision after working seven innings, allowing two earned runs with two walks and five strikeouts. Phillips recorded four outs, allowing a run on two hits with a strikeout. Roman Wild also picked up two outs, being charged with a run on two hits after striking out one. Moffat’s work in the 12th earned him his first career save.
The two teams meet up for the rubber game of the series Sunday at 12 p.m. CST.
GAME NOTES
– Urban earned his first career victory for the Bonnies.
– Through four innings of work this season, Urban has not allowed a run while striking out six.
– Vincent had his career-long outing with seven innings of work. He has now struck out five or more batters in three of his five starts.
– Used primarily as a lefty specialist in the early going of his debut season, Moffat worked a full inning of relief for just the second time.
– Baldinelli had his third three-hit game of the year, lifting his batting average to a team-best .340.
– Fuller’s triple was his first as a Bonnie.
– Peterson delivered his eighth multi-hit game of the season, best on the team.
– St. Bonaventure moved to 1-2 in extra inning games this season.
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