St. John's University Athletics
Red Storm Continues Winning Ways, Beats Fairfield, 8-4
4/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
St. John's (16-11) got contributions from up and down its lineup, taking control in the middle innings and beating Fairfield (6-16), 8-4, at Jack Kaiser Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. All nine players in the Red Storm lineup had at least one hit and seven drove in runs, as the team won for the ninth time in 10 games.
St. John's overcame four early Fairfield runs and took the lead for good behind a strong relief appearance by freshman Nick Cenatiempo. The rookie worked a career-high five innings, holding the Stags scoreless on four hits while striking out a career-best five batters. Miguel Valcarcel made his third start of the season, but was lifted for Cenatiempo in the third after allowing six hits and four runs (two earned) in two innings.
Anthony Smith hit his second of two doubles in a key three-run seventh and finished the game with a team-high two RBI. Sam DeLuca set the table for the Red Storm lineup, reaching base three times and scoring a pair of runs while also extending his streak of consecutive at-bats without a strikeout to 60.
Valcarcel struck out the leadoff hitter, Albie Desimone, then allowed four straight singles as the Stags opened up a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning. Designated hitter Peter Allen and right fielder Brian Rudolph both collected RBI with line drive singles.
The Red Storm responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 2-2. Gil Zayas ripped an RBI single up the middle, and Smith hit a sacrifice fly to center field to plate DeLuca with the tying run.
Fairfield again pushed two runs across in the second and took a 4-2 lead. Valcarcel loaded the bases with two outs on a single, error and a walk and allowed the first of two unearned runs on a walk to Matt Tiagwad. Allen knocked in his second run of the game on a single through the left side to cap the Stags scoring.
Brendan Monaghan, making his first start as a designated hitter, cut the deficit in half with an RBI single in the bottom of the second, while Gino Matias (sacrifice fly) and Brian Kemp (RBI single) gave the Red Storm its first lead with run-producing at-bats in the fourth.
St. John's made a push in the seventh, gaining separation with a three-run inning and taking an 8-4 lead into the eighth. Ryan Cole and Colin Lynch worked scoreless eighth and ninth innings, respectively, as the Red Storm held on for its seventh straight win over non-conference opponents.
The team gets back in action on Wednesday with a doubleheader against Fairleigh Dickinson at Jack Kaiser Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
