May 3, 2008

Final Stats

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - For the second time in as many days, the St. Bonaventure softball team defeated Rhode Island via the mercy rule as the Bonnies parlayed multiple Ram miscues into an 8-0 five-inning victory on Saturday afternoon at McGraw-Jennings Field.

Following today's victory over the Rams, the Brown and White earned their third Atlantic 10 series sweep of the season and their eighth win in the last 10 conference contests. The Bonnies now own a 20-21 overall record in 2008 for just the program's second every foray on the 20-win plateau. This year's edition sits second all-time in school history with 20 victories and rank just three wins behind the 2006 team's 23 triumphs.

The offensive firepower at the plate is beginning to click at the right time for the Bonnies as they produced their seventh double-digit hit performance of the season with 10 hits against the Rams. Their eight runs also accounted for the club's second highest scoring effort in league play following yesterday's nine-run production.

No one is enjoying the offensive outbursts of the Bona bats more than sophomore pitcher Sherri Thompson as she notched her 16th win of the year and second straight over the Rams. Thompson twirled her sixth shutout of the season with all six coming in league play, while only allowing three hits this afternoon. The second-year ace has been nearly unhittable in A-10 action (11-2) with a paltry earned run average of 0.75 in 15 appearances.

The runs came quickly for the Brown and White in game two of the series thanks to a trio of Rhode Island errors in the first frame. Junior Kathryn Pazda entered the base paths following a miscue from the Ram's left fielder on the first play of the game. After a one-out walk to senior Brianna Bricker, rookie Kara Morenus laced an RBI double into left center to put the Bonnies on the board 1-0.

A pair of fielding errors led to the Bonnies next two scores of the inning as well. Bricker and Morenus each reached the plate following errors at third base to provide the home club with a 3-0 cushion after one.

After two scoreless innings with the rain beginning to fall, the Bonnies tallied three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-0 lead. Morenus continued her hot-hitting with a sacrifice fly into center field to bring in senior Andrea Swanger. The next Bona run occurred in unlikely fashion following a Stephanie Narde foul out behind the plate.

With one out following the pop up to the catcher, the Rhode Island backstop fired over to second base in attempt to pick off senior Kirstin Strong between first and second. During the throw, Bricker raced toward the plate and scored for the club's fifth run, while Strong advanced all the way to third. During the next at-bat, Strong recorded a run following a passed ball to make it 6-0 in favor of the Bonnies.

The Brown and White clinched the win in the fifth frame with two more runs to bring the mercy rule into effect. Morenus registered her third RBI of the contest with a one-run single into center field before Bricker sealed the victory after scoring on a wild pitch.

Thompson posted her sixth shutout of the season.

Bricker tallied three hits for the second straight day, finishing 6-for-9 during the series with the Rams. Morenus also enjoyed a productive series with Rhode Island as she registered five RBI over the two-game set.

A pair of hitting streaks survived this afternoon as well. Pazda has reached base thanks to a hit in six straight conference contests, while junior Ashley Kotz has hit safely in five consecutive games overall.

St. Bonaventure seniors Bricker, Patricia McKeon and Strong were all honored prior to this afternoon's contest as part of Senior Day. The three make up the program's winningest class in school history with 75 career victories and a soon to be third trip to the Atlantic 10 Championship.

The Bonnies return to action tomorrow at noon for a doubleheader against nationally ranked Massachusetts for the regular season finales for both clubs. First pitch of the twinbill begins at noon.