Courtesy of GoBonnies.com
FAIRFAX, Va. – It was a tough Sunday afternoon for the St. Bonaventure baseball team as the Bonnies lost a 7-6 walkoff heartbreaker in game one before falling 6-0 in the nightcap as host George Mason swept an Atlantic 10 doubleheader at Spuhler Field.
Game One – George Mason 7, St. Bonaventure 6 | Box Score
The Bonnies battled from behind the entire way and completed their comeback with a three-run ninth inning to take the lead only to see the Patriots answer back with three of their own to take the opener in dramatic fashion.
George Mason (10-11, 3-0 Atlantic 10) scored twice in the first inning and held control from that point, adding a run in the third for a 3-0 advantage.
The Bonnies (4-13, 0-3) clawed their way back, though, first getting on the board in the fourth inning when Ryan MacCarrick doubled and then moved to third. He would come into score when David Vaccaro put a bunt down with two outs on the third base side of the rubber, beating out the throw on a bang-bang play at first to allow MacCarrick to cross the plate.
Mason made it a 4-1 lead with a run in the fifth, but the Bonnies found some late inning magic.
In the seventh, Sam Fuller was able to leg out an infield single on a ball hit three steps onto the grass on the second base side, beating the throw as Jeff Palczewski scored from third. An RBI groundout from Jake Foden also scored a run to bring the Bonnies within 4-3.
The one-run margin stood until the ninth when the Bonnies picked up three straight singles to begin the inning – a hit through the left side by Ben MacDonald, a Fuller bunt single that stayed just fair inside the third base line, and a knock to left by Mike Magnanti.
With one away, Brandon Henshaw drilled a hit to right center field, plating two runs to give the Bonnies their first lead of the day. St. Bonaventure moved ahead 6-4 on a run-scoring fielder’s choice hit by Tyler Kelder.
Unfortunately for the Bonnies, the lead would be very shortlived. George Mason roared back with a single, walk, wild pitch and two more singles to begin the inning. A hit by Logan Driscoll plated the game-winning run.
Magnanti went 3-for-5 while Fuller and Casey Vincent each had two hits for the Bonnies.
Braydon Nelson started and got a no-decision after allowing four runs in six innings of work while striking out six.
Game Two – George Mason 6, St. Bonaventure 0 | Box Score
Mason kept its momentum going in game two, quickly jumping out to a 2-0 lead on a two-run first inning homer from Driscoll.
A run in the third made it a 3-0 game while three runs in the fifth gave the hosts complete control.
George Mason starter Brian Marconi held the Bonnies to just three hits – singles from MacCarrick, Henshaw and Palczewski.
Ben Contento started (4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) while Murphy O’Brien (1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K) and Brian Pulli (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K) each tossed multiple innings of scoreless relief.
The Bonnies are slated to host their home opener in a non-conference doubleheader vs. Bucknell at Fred Handler Park Tuesday at 2 p.m.
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