DeJohn’s 11th-inning heroics send Bonnies to 6-4 win at Rhody

Courtesy of GoBonnies.com

KINGSTON, R.I. – Jackson DeJohn’s 11^th inning single plated two runs and sent the St. Bonaventure baseball team to a thrilling 6-4 victory at Rhode Island Friday afternoon to open an Atlantic 10 Conference series.

For the Bonnies, their third try at extra innings this year proved the charm as they have now won consecutive games and stand 1-3 in A-10 action.

Matthew Williams opened the final inning with a single to right and went to third one out later on a double down the left field line off the bat of Garrett Boldt.

DeJohn then played the role of the hero, punching a one-strike delivery into center to score both Williams and Boldt.

Rhode Island ran itself out of a chance to rally in the home half of the frame, seeing a runner caught stealing at third and another picked off second on throws from DeJohn. Rushil Bhat then coaxed a pop up above second to end the game.

DeJohn and Williams each posted three hits and a pair of RBIs to power Bona’s 12-hit attack. Boldt and Ben Berger registered two hits apiece.

Williams started the scoring with his run-scoring double in the first, plating Berger for a 1-0 lead.

Rhode Island would immediately answer in the first with a run of its own, and grabbed the lead on an infield single to plate a second run after two frames. The Rams, though, stranded several runners and could not add to their lead any further. For the day, Rhody would leave an astounding 22 men on base.

Bona’s used the long ball to first tie the game, then take the lead.

Williams drilled a homer to right-center in the third for the tie. Then, an inning later, Danny Manion hit a no-doubt bomb to left for a two-run shot and a 4-2 advantage.

Rhode Island (5-23, 2-2 A-10) evened the score with two runs in the eighth and nearly walked off a winner in the ninth before Cody Shimp worked out of a bases-loaded jam.

Bryce Hediger started and worked four innings, allowing two runs with three strikeouts for the Bonnies pitching staff. Kyle Caringi followed with three frames of shutout relief. Gabe Watts struck out two in the eighth. Shimp picked up four outs and did not allow a run while Bhat earned his first win in a Bonnies uniform by working the final two innings.

Alex Ramirez had four hits and Addison Kopack went 5-for-6 in starring roles for the Rams. Starter Ryan Twitchell allowed four runs in four innings before Sean Sposato took over on the hill, stifling the Bonnies bats for six innings before finally allowing two runs in the 11^th.

The two teams renew acquaintances Saturday at 1 p.m.