St. John's University Athletics
Red Storm Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader from Georgetown
4/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
After a two-and-a-half hour rain delay between games, Holmes was impressive, allowing only three singles in the first six innings as St. Johns opened up a 4-0 lead. The Red Storm got on top in the second, with junior Chad Cambra (Taunton, Mass.) hitting an infield single and moving to second on a wild pitch before classmate Ray Downs (New Rochelle, N.Y.) delivered him home with a double to left center. In the fifth, junior Josh Young (Pittsford, N.Y.) reached on a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before coming home on an error, extending the lead to 2-0.
The lead grew to four runs in the sixth when sophomore Anthony DeRosa (Salem, N.H.) hit a leadoff double to center and scored on a Cambra single. Cambra scored on another double by Downs.
Georgetown cut the lead in half in the seventh, but the Red Storm bounced back with five runs in the bottom of the inning. Martin and senior Jason Kane (Rutherford, N.J.) drew walks and DeRosa reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Consecutive bases loaded walks to Cambra and Downs gave SJU a 6-2 lead and junior Asa Grunenwald (Boalsburg, Pa.) extended the lead with a two-run single to right-center. Sophomore Mike Rozema (Fair Lawn, N.J.) accounted for the Red Storms final run with a ground out.
Holmes went eight innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on seven hits, while walking one and striking out five batters. He improves to 4-1 with the win.
In game one, Georgetown had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on an RBI single when James Supple hit an RBI groundout, but the Red Storm bounced back with a pair of runs in the fourth. Bilezikjian hit a leadoff double down the left field line, moved to third on an infield single from Kane and scored on Martins sacrifice fly. Freshman Blake Hershelman (Georgetown, Del.) doubled to left, moving Kane to third and he scored on a ground out from Cambra, giving SJU a 2-1 lead.
In the sixth, Carlos Gazitua reached on an error and moved to third on Michael Lombardis ground-rule double. Matt Carullos RBI groundout tied the game, sending it to extra innings.
Both teams had chances in the extra frames, but neither team could capitalize until the top of the ninth, when Georgetown took advantage of a pair of leadoff walks from senior reliever Vinnie Mannese (Marlboro, N.Y.). Mike Greens sacrifice fly brought in the go-ahead run, and Jon Blodgett, who walked, scored on a wild pitch.
Down to their last at-bats, the Red Storm came alive. Cambra was issued a leadoff walk and sophomore Jeremy Winter (Cliffside Park, N.J.) hit a pinch-hit single, putting runners on first and second. Young followed with a double to right, scoring Cambra and pinch-runner Downs, tying the game.
In the bottom of the 10th, Kane hit a double to deep center, and Martin followed with a single through the right side, giving the Red Storm the thrilling 5-4 win.
Junior Tom Klemm (Salem, N.H.) threw 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win, improving to 3-2 overall.
St. Johns (17-14, 7-5 BIG EAST), winners of three straight, hosts Virginia Tech on Sunday. The doubleheader at The Ballpark begins at 11 a.m.
