St. John's University Athletics
STAMLER LEADS ST. JOHN'S PAST VILLANOVA, 9-2
9/12/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The win, coupled with West Virginia's loss at Seton Hall and Pittsburgh's doubleheader loss at Notre Dame, tightens the race for the sixth and final spot in the BIG EAST Tournament. St. John's jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when senior right fielder Pete Graham (Horseheads, N.Y./Wall [N.J.]) walked, moved to third on an error and scored on a fielder's choice by senior catcher Mike Niksa (Malverne, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial).
In the fourth, junior first baseman Chris Fallon (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) drew a leadoff walk and scored when Graham hit a two-run home run into the left field bullpen, the first home run by a Red Storm player in five games at Shea Stadium this year, giving St. John's a 3-0 lead. The lead grew to 9-0 in the sixth. Junior left fielder Eric Potts (Little Ferry, N.J./Ridgefield Park) and Niksa walked and moved to second and third on a wild pitch. A single to centerfield by sophomore third baseman Jason Kane (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) scored Potts and put runners on the corners for senior second baseman Matt Galante (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell), who singled to left, scoring Niksa and increasing the lead to 5-0. A walk to senior shortstop Anthony Sutter (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) loaded the bases for sophomore centerfielder Charlie Bilezikjian (Staten Island, N.Y./Port Richmond), who delivered a two-run single to center. Fallon followed with a two-run double to right, increasing the margin to 9-0 and giving Stamler all the held he'd need. He allowed two runs on eight hits, including a ninth inning solo home run to center by pinch hitter Mike Houser, and struck out seven as he improved to 4-3 this season.
St. John's and Villanova play a doubleheader at Shea Stadium on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is slated for noon.
