St. John's University Athletics
Red Storm Christen New Field With a Split
3/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Red Storm was powered by junior outfielder Bryan Hedgecock (Ridge, N.J./Ridge) who had an outstanding day at the plate. He was 5-for-6 with four runs scored, two RBI, a double and a stolen base. Billy Grasier (Jericho, N.Y./Briarcliffe C.C.) also contributed with a 5-for-9 performance, driving in one run, scoring once and a stolen base.
In the opening game, the Huskies managed to stifle a Red Storm rally in the seventh to hold on for the 3-2 win. Marc Goldberg (Staten Island, N.Y./Port Richmonda) made the start, allowing three runs (all unearned) on 10 hits, striking out five. His record drops to 1-3 on the season.
All the Huskie runs came in the first inning before Goldberg settled down and held them scoreless in six innings. But St. Johns didnt fare much better with just four hits in the first four innings.
St. Johns finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Hedgecock scored on a groundout by Charlie Bilezikjian (Staten Island, N.Y./Port Richmond). It wasnt until the seventh inning that the Red Storm posed a real threat. Hedgecock doubled to left to start the inning and advanced to third on a single up the middle by Grasier. Freshman Mike Rozema (Fairlawn, N.J./Fairlawn) singled in Hedgecock. However, Bilezikjian failed to advance the runners in two bunt attempts, hitting into a fielders choice, and Chris Fallon (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) lined into a double play to end the game.
Not to be outdone on their home opener, the Red Storm earned the split with the 8-3 win. Connecticut got on the board in the top of the third, but St. Johns was quick to respond, when Bilezikjian singled in Hedgecock to knot the game at one. The Red Storm added two in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Asa Grunnenwald (Boalsburg, Pa./State College Area) and a single to right field by Grasier.
However, the Huskies wouldnt give up, scoring once more in the fifth and once in the seventh to chase out Red storm starter, Geno Orsogna (Norfolk, Mass./Bishop Feehan) and tying the game at three. Orsogna pitched 6.2 innings, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out five.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Red Storm mounted a rally, batting around and scoring five runs on seven hits. Bilezikjian doubled to left and advanced to third on a single by Fallon. Eric Potts (Little Ferry, N.J./Ridgefield Park) loaded the bases, singling to shortstop. Hedgecock then provided the game-winning hit with a two-RBI single to right center, scoring Bilezikjian and Fallon for the 5-3 lead. But the Red Storm was not finished. Grunenwald singled to right, driving in two runs and Rozema scored Jason Kane (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) for the final run of the inning.
Ryan Kyle (Kingsville, Md./Calvert Hall) earned his first collegiate victory, pitching 1.1 innings of relief, retiring four of the five batters he faced.
The Red Storm returns to action tomorrow, closing out the series with Connecticut at noon at the Ballpark at St. Johns University.
