DELRAY BEACH, Florida - The Black Bears and St. Bonaventure Bonnies faced off for a third time at Little Fenway at Miller Park in Delray Beach, after two extra-inning games in a row, the series finale would only take nine innings to decide, as the Bonnies rallied late to take the game 4-3.
Maine starter
Nick Silva held the Bonnies to one run through 7.0 innings, allowing only four hits, one earned run, three walks and four strikeouts.
Maine struck first in the top of the fourth inning, as
Danny Casals got on base due to a throwing error, and then
Christopher Bec hit an RBI double to score Casals, giving Maine the 1-0 lead. A repeat performance by Bennett on his own RBI double would score Bec, giving Maine a 2-0 lead after 3.5 innings.
In the top of the fifth Maine would add on another insurance run as
Danny Casals singled, scoring Della Fera from third base, giving Maine a 3-0 lead.
St. Bonaventure started to slowly chip back, getting more and more chances at runs, only managing one run before the ninth inning, which was scored in the bottom of the fifth on a sac-fly; Maine led 3-1 after five full innings of play.
Eddie Emerson came into the game in releif of Silva in the bottom of the eighth and retired three straight batters on a ground out and two fly-outs. After Maine couldn't get any more insurance in the top of the ninth, despite a solid one-out single by
Caleb Kerbs, the Bonnies came to the bottom of the ninth needing two runs to tie, three to win. The leadoff Bonnie hitter doubled off Emerson into left field, and then a pinch-hitter was walked by Emerson. With two on and no outs,
Jeff Gelinas came in to attempt a save and get Maine out of a jam. The first batter he faced reached on a throwing error when a routine ground out was overthrown over first by Gelinas, allowing the runners to advance two bases, putting runners on second and third with no outs and a run scored, 3-2 Maine.
The Black Bears would intentionally walk the next batter to load the bases and to enable a force-out at each base. But two successful base hits by the Bonnies would then score the game tying and game winning runs, as the Bonnies spoiled the Black Bear sweep and walked off with a 4-3 win.
Jeff Gelinas, despite giving up an earned run, gets the loss allowing the game-winning unearned run to reach base. He's now 0-1 on the season. St. Bonaventure relief pitcher Roman Wild evens up his record to 1-1 with the victory.
The Black Bears will face off with Florida Atlantic University tomorrow evening at 6:30pm, and then have Thursday off before returning to Miller Park to face UMass in a three-game weekend series.
-UMaine-
