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Baseball
Bonnies, Drexel split doubleheader
March 16, 2003 PHILADELPHIA - St. Bonaventure and Drexel split a doubleheader on Sunday at Drexel Field. The Bonnies won the opener 11-8 but dropped a 4-3 decision in the nightcap as the Dragons avoided being swept in the three-game series that opened Saturday. Junior Nic Beecher pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts and no walks to lead Drexel to victory in the second game. Bona junior center fielder Matt Landahl slammed a two-run home run to right field that tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth, but the Dragons answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Trailing 4-2, the Bonnies threatened in their last at-bat when senior third baseman Josh Paine doubled to lead off the inning. He then moved to third on Landahl's single and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore catcher Damian Blakeley. Beecher, though, got freshman pinch-hitter Matt Agostonelli to ground into a game-ending double play. Senior Kevin Niemczura took the loss, giving up four runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts. He fell to 0-1. In the first game, St. Bonaventure came back from an 8-4 deficit, getting five runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to post an 11-8 victory. The Bonnies went up 9-7 in the fifth inning after their first five batters reached base and scored, highlighted by singles by Wilson, Landahl and senior designated hitter Greg Osganian and with one out, an RBI triple by senior first baseman Kevin Ryan.
Landahl went 3-4 with three RBI and three runs, and junior shortstop Eric Wilson contributed two hits, including a home run, two RBI and three runs.
Senior Matt Gunesch got the win, coming in relief of starter Mike McCormack in the fourth to shut down the Dragons, allowing no runs on only one hit with three strikeouts. St. Bonaventure is now 6-4 while Drexel is 3-10. The Bonnies will visit West Virginia for a pair of games on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 18-19. Tuesday's game starts at 5:00. |
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