St. Bonaventure edges Lehigh in extra innings

Tuesday, March 10

Port Charlotte, Fla.

10 a.m.

Lehigh University

3-5

St. Bonaventure

5-2

St. Bonaventure

Lehigh

St. Bonaventure edges Lehigh in extra innings

3/10/2015 4:31:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The Lehigh baseball team came out on the short end of an extra-inning thriller Tuesday morning at the Snowbird Classic as St. Bonaventure captured a 5-2, 11-inning victory in the final game of a three-game series between the two teams. The game headed into extra innings knotted at two, but the Bonnies used a bases-clearing double in the top half of the eleventh inning to capture the win.

Lehigh scored its two runs right out of the gate as sophomore Jacen Nalesnik drew a walk in the bottom half of the first inning before coming around to score on an RBI double off the bat of junior Anthony Rinaldi. Sophomore Patrick Donnelly followed with an RBI double of his own to bring home Rinaldi and put the Mountain Hawks up 2-0 after one inning.

Lehigh freshman starter Peter Moore kept the Bonnies off the board until the third inning when Thad Johnson doubled to bring home Cole Peterson and cut Lehigh's lead to 2-1. The Mountain Hawks weren't able to get anything else off of St. Bonaventure starter Brandon Schlimm, who wrapped up his four-inning outing with two runs on two hits.

Moore remained in control the rest of the way as he finished up his strong outing with just one run on three hits and five strikeouts in six full innings of work. Senior Jordan Smith came in to relieve Moore in the seventh inning and the Bonnies were able to even the game when a Lehigh error led to Aaron Phillips crossing the plate to tie the game at two.

Junior Kevin Boswick took over on the mound during the seventh to help limit the damage before keeping the Bonnies hitless for the final two innings of regulation. The Mountain Hawks threatened in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and one out, but Phillips recorded back-to-back strikeouts to get out of trouble and send the game into extra innings.

After a scoreless tenth inning, the Bonnies loaded the bases with two outs in the 11th thanks a pair of singles and a walk. Danny Urban stepped up to rip a three-run double to clear the bases and give St. Bonaventure a 5-2 advantage. A walk and a hit by pitch gave the Mountain Hawks two runners in the bottom half of the eleventh, but Lehigh couldn't take advantage as a fielder's choice ended the contest and the Bonnies earned the 5-2 victory.

Boswick suffered the loss after finishing with a line of three runs on four hits and five strikeouts in 4.1 innings. Phillips earned the win for St. Bonaventure, while Johnson picked up his third save of the season.

The Mountain Hawks continue their Spring Break trip at the Snowbird Classic Wednesday at 3 p.m. when Lehigh faces Georgetown.

Like Lehigh baseball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates and content.