May 2, 2010

Box Score

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis rallied but could not overcome an early deficit in a 7-6 loss to St. Bonaventure Sunday in Atlantic 10 Conference baseball action at The Billiken Sports Center.

Saint Louis moves to 23-22 overall and 10-8 in the A-10, while St. Bonaventure improves to 14-24, 6-12 in the league. The Billikens are off this week and return to action next weekend with a three-game series at La Salle.

J.D. Dunn and Ben Braaten had two hits apiece, while Zach Miller drove in two runs.

St. Bonaventure went on top 2-0 in the first, and the Billikens gained the lead after scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Dunn singled to left and stole second. Jon Myers drew a one-out walk, and he and Dunn both scored on a Miller double. Later, with two outs, Braaten drove in Miller to put the Billikens on top 4-3.

But St. Bonaventure had a big inning in the fifth, plating five runs to take a 7-3 lead. Jesse Bosnik hit a grand slam to highlight the five-run frame.

The Billikens made it interesting by scoring three times in the sixth, doing all their damage with two outs. Steve Fernandez walked, and Braaten singled to put two runners on. Connor Gandossy plated Fernandez to make it 7-4. On that play, Braaten advanced to third, and the St. Bonaventure third baseman was called for obstruction, allowing Braaten to score to make it a 7-5 game.

SLU wasn't done scoring in the sixth. Mike Levine and Cody Cotter drew walks to load the bases for Dunn, who notched an infield single to score Gandossy to make it a 7-6 game.

That is as close as the Bills would get, however, as St. Bonaventure's Jordan Crane and Billy Urban (S, 2) shut down the Bills over the final three innings.

Starter Jerry Mancuso was charged with the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits. Relievers Jon Levin and Andres Wiltz held SBU in check the rest of the way. Levin entered in the fifth and ended the inning, then pitched a scoreless sixth as well. Wiltz tossed a perfect three innings for the Billikens.