(Photo Credit: GoBonnies.com)
By Chuckie Maggio @chuckiemaggio
The St. Bonaventure softball team hosted George Washington for a three-game series this weekend- and came out of it wishing for another win.
The Bonnies split a Friday doubleheader at Joyce Field, handing the Colonials their first Atlantic 10 loss in the second game. On Saturday afternoon, however, they dropped a lopsided decision in the rubber game and missed out on a chance for a series win.
Game 1 was dominated by the offenses, as GW edged out Bona 8-7. A Carlee Gray two-run home run off of SBU pitcher Josie Borysevicz highlighted a three-run first inning. Rochelle Draper and Morgan Rinehart also drove in two runs in the game for the Colonials, while Paige Kovalsky registered the other RBI.
Bona’s offense was led by right fielder Desiree Gonzalez, who got three hits, including a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the sixth. Alissa Karjel joined her in the home run club two batters later, hitting a two-run blast to left. Emily Belfield and Kelli Rohan also drove in runs.
Sarah Costlow went the distance in the circle for GW, allowing four earned runs and earning the victory. Borysevicz pitched 3.1 innings, struck out four and allowed six earned runs. She was relieved by Alexis Sloat, who recorded 3.2 innings of two-hit ball.
Bonaventure left the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth and left a runner at second in the bottom of the seventh, failing to get the tying run.
Game 2 was a pitchers duel, with just five hits on each side. Bona’s Carly Bilchak and GW’s Jayme Cone each pitched complete games and traded zeros on the scoreboard until the sixth.
A Gray single put the Colonials on the board in the top half of the inning, but they wouldn’t have the lead for long. A Morgan Phillips single and Kiera Lorenzo walk set the table for Kelly Farrell, who hit a homer to left to put SBU up 3-1.
The Colonials recorded a double in their last ups, but Bilchak struck out Aiyana Leal-Robles looking and got Rinehart to line out to center fielder Emily Belfield, who made a sliding catch to end the game.
The brown and white mustered 10 hits in Game 3, but were not able to convert them to many runs, leaving six on base and falling 13-5.
Bonnies coach Mike Threehouse lamented the missed opportunities in Game 1 that led to the series loss.
“We had an opportunity to win two games,” he said. “If we can take care of business (in the first game) we’d be a lot better off than we are right now.
“From my standpoint, for one win at home against GW, even though they’re 3-0, I don’t consider that a good day or a good weekend. We needed another win here; two out of three would’ve been a lot better.”
The Bonnies’ pitching staff has the worst earned run average in the A-10 at 6.43, but its lineup has also been inconsistent. It has scored two or fewer runs eight times, or 33 percent of its games.
“That’s what we need to be, more consistent,” Threehouse said. “We need more production up and down the lineup. We’ve gotta get production out of the middle consistently, we need some production in the seven-eight hole and just get people swinging the bat a little more consistently.
“To be honest with you, it’s not even how many hits you get, it’s when you get them. We need to get hits with runners in scoring position… we’ve got to find a way to mentally prepare ourselves in those big types of situations.”
The Bonnies are away from home for the next seven games, with a doubleheader at Fordham on Wednesday, a three game series at La Salle next weekend and a doubleheader at Niagara on April 14.
Threehouse knows the importance of the upcoming A-10 contests in the Bronx and Philadelphia.
“We’ve just got to win as many games as possible,” he said. “If we can win three out of those five (or) four out of those five, we’re right back in the hunt and we’re in pretty good shape.”
Fordham is three-time defending league champions, while La Salle has started the season 0-3.
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