St. John's University Athletics
SJU Falls to Notre Dame, 5-2
4/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
After tying the game on back-to-back doubles in the top of the seventh, the Irish scored three times in the bottom of the inning to take the 5-2 lead. Senior starter Charlie Bilezikjian (Staten Island, N.Y.) gave up a leadoff single to Javier Sanchez and Joe Thaman was able to reach on a pop-up bunt that neither Bilezikjian or catcher Josh Young (Rochester, N.Y.) could reach with wet grounds. A fly out moved Sanchez to third and he scored when Matt Bok singled through the right side. Junior Tom Klemm (Salem, N.H.) relieved Bilezikjian and walked Paul O'Toole to load the bases. Cleanup hitter Andrew Bushey followed with a single to left, scoring two runs and giving the Irish a 5-2 advantage.
The Red Storm had tied the game at 2-apiece in the top of the inning when junior Chad Cambra (Taunton, Mass.) hit a leadoff double and sophomore Mike Rozema (Fair Lawn, N.J.) followed with a double to the right field wall against a drawn-in outfield, scoring pinch-runner Bryan Hedgecock (Basking Ridge, N.J.).
St. John's jumped on top in the fourth inning when senior third baseman Jason Kane (Rutherford, N.J.) scored on a throwing error. Kane led off with a walk and moved to third on a single from freshman Jim Martin (Norwood, Mass.). Young flew out to center to record the second out, but a throwing error allowed Kane to score, giving SJU an early 1-0 lead.
Notre Dame took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring two runs on Bilezikjian. Thaman reached on a one-out walk and moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Steve Stanley followed with a single to left, tying the game, and Matt Bok tripled to right, scoring Stanley and giving the Irish a 3-2 lead.
St. John's returns to action on Tuesday, playing at St. Francis (N.Y.). The game, to be played at KeySpan Park in Brooklyn, will begin at 3 p.m.
