St. John's University Athletics
SJU Baseball Splits Doubleheader with Monmouth
3/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
In the nightcap, Monmouth scored single runs off senior starter Charlie Bilezikjian (Staten Island, N.Y.) in the first and third innings, respectively, but the Red Storm scrapped back to tie the game. Sophomore Mike Rozema (Fair Lawn, N.J.) was issued a leadoff walk and moved to third after Monmouth starter Andrew Chiappano loaded the bases. A single from senior third baseman Jason Kane (Rutherford, N.J.) narrowed the gap. SJU tied the game in the fifth when senior Billy Graiser (Muttontown, N.Y.) singled, stole second and scored when Bilezikjian singled up the middle.
The Red Storm took the lead in the sixth, with four runs on four hits, including three-straight doubles, off Hawks relievers Tom Siciliano and Brian Driber. Junior catcher Josh Young (Pittsford, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch and scored on a double from Rozema, giving SJU a 3-2 lead. The margin grew to three runs, 5-2, when freshman Brett Hardie (Toms River, N.J.) and Graiser followed with doubles. A single from sophomore Anthony DeRosa (Salem, N.H.) plated Graiser, giving the Red Storm a 6-2 lead.
St. Johns added a run in the seventh on a wild pitch and two more in the eighth, with junior Ray Downs (New Rochelle, N.Y.) driving in one.
In the nightcap, Bilezikjian went 6.0 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on only two hits, with six strikeouts, as he improved to 2-1 this season. The senior lowered his team-best earned run average to 2.99. Graiser hit a double, single, scored three times and drove in one run with two stolen bases, while Downs added two singles, a run and one stolen base.
In the first game, SJU freshman Jim Wladyka (Rutherford, N.J.) and Monmouth sophomore Andrew Palmieri had a pitchers duel. Wladyka allowed only one hit, a leadoff single in the fourth, through six innings, while Palmieri got out of trouble in the first and settled down to keep the Red Storm at bay.
The Hawks were finally able to put something on the board in the seventh, when senior Jay Law hit a one-out single and moved to second when Paul Grasso reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Mike Kelly reached on a fielders choice, putting runners on the corner with two out, but Mike St. Martine laced a double to right, scoring Law and Kelly, to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.
Young reached on a two-out single for the Red Storm, but Kelly, who moved from shortstop to pitch, earned his second save of the season.
Wladyka threw a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out three batters as he fell to 0-3 this season.
St. Johns (5-9) returns to action on Wednesday, playing at Fairfield at 3 p.m.
