BASEBALL: Despite Early Lead, Bonnies Unable To Continue Win Streak

St. Bonaventure University Athletic News

February 28, 2012 WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Despite scoring two 1st-inning runs, the St. Bonaventure baseball team (2-2) had its two-game winning streak halted abruptly with a 13-3 setback to Mount St. Mary's (1-4) on Tuesday afternoon. The Bonnies jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but a four-run 4th, three-run 6th and five-run 8th by the Mount helped it start the four-game series with a victory. The Mountaineers were coming off a four-game sweep at the hands of Atlantic 10 Conference member Saint Louis over the weekend. Junior Billy Urban paced the Bona offensive attack with a 3-4 effort and an RBI, while junior Michael Meredith continued his hot start with a 2-4 showing. Senior Nick Brennen – who got the start on the mound – went 2-3 with a pair of RBI. Brennen threw 4+ innings in his first start of the year, taking the loss after surrendering six earned runs on seven hits. The southpaw walked four and struck out two before giving way to a trio of relief pitchers: sophomore Asa Johnson and freshmen Zachary Edwards and Cameron Carney. Johnson and Edwards both pitched two innings, while Carney tossed a shutout in the 9th in his first collegiate action. Senior catcher Michael Grieco was forced to leave the game in the 6th inning after pulling up lame into second base legging out a double in the bottom of the 5th. The New Jersey native, whose status is unknown, came into the contest having started 115 games behind the plate for the Bonnies. Bonaventure raced out to the early lead with an Urban single to score classmate Jason Radwan in the 1st. Brennen followed later in the frame with a single to plate junior Austin Ingraham – who had reached via a walk. The lone other Bona run came in the 6th, and once again it was Brennen driving in the run as he plated Urban – who had led off the inning with a double. The Bonnies and Mountaineers resume their four-game series with an early 11:30 a.m. start on Wednesday. Redshirt junior Eddie Gray will look to bounce back from a loss in his first game as he is scheduled to get the start on the mound. Junior transfer Nick Lohrer is scheduled to get the start for the Bonnies at catcher, and if it occurs would mark the first time Grieco has not started behind the plate since April 27, 2010 when he sat out the second game of a doubleheader against Canisius.