St. John's University Athletics
South Alabama Tops St. Johns in Opener, 19-3
2/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Jaguars jumped on top in the bottom of the first when Cole Craig reached on a bunt single and scored on a double to right-center from Jansen Rayborn.
St. Johns, however, scored two runs in the top of the inning, taking a 2-1 lead. Senior centerfielder Billy Graiser (Muttontown, N.Y.) hit a leadoff single and moved to third on a single from junior Drew Jackson (Morgantown, W. Va.). With one out, junior first baseman Jesus Bravo (San Jose, Calif.) singled to left, scoring Graiser to tie the game. Senior Ray Downs (New Rochelle, N.Y.) grounded into what appeared to be an inning-ending doubleplay, but beat the throw to first, allowing Jackson to score the go-ahead run.
South Alabama, Sun Belt Conference Champions the last four years and NCAA Regional competitors the last eight, took the lead for good with seven runs in the bottom of the inning. Brett Parker hit a leadoff double and scored on a single from Craig to tie the game at 2-apiece. An error from St. Johns starting pitcher Jim Wladyka (Rutherford, N.J.) put runners on first and second and a single to Ryan Mulhern loaded the bases for Josh Touchstone, who blasted a shot over the wall in dead center, giving USA a 6-2 lead. Adam Lind followed with a single and Tim Land then hit one of his two home runs of the game, making the lead 8-2.
South Alabama added 11 more runs over the next three innings, with the game stopped after seven innings.
Graiser went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a double and two singles, while Jackson finished 3-for-4 with three singles, a run scored and one RBI.
Wladyka went 4.0 innings in the loss, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 11 hits. Freshman Shane Kochon (Atlantic Highlands, N.J.) gave up eight runs (four earned) on seven hits in the final two innings of play.
