St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Connecticut
Yecker, Red Storm Win 1-0 Duel Against UConn
4/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 13, 2008
QUEENS, N.Y. - A day after belting out nine extra base hits, the No. 22 St. John's baseball team was held to just two hits, but produced a run and defeated UConn 1-0 in a pitcher's duel. Jared Yecker tossed 6.0 scoreless innings, scattering four hits and striking out six to lead the way for St. John's (25-8, 9-3). Chris Anninos had both of the Red Storm's hits, a double and single, to lead the offense. For UConn (18-17, 6-9), starter Mike Hashem surrendered just one run and allowed one hit in 6.0 innings.
Yecker and Hashem matched each other inning for inning from the beginning. Yecker struck out one and retired the side in order in the top of the frame, while Hashem walked Gino Matias to lead off the bottom of the inning before retiring the next three batters. Yecker allowed a lead off single in the second, but induced a double play and tallied a strike out to end the inning. Hashem, meanwhile, tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the second for UConn.
In the third, Yecker added another strikeout and retired the side in order for the second time. In the bottom of the frame, though, Hashem retired the side in order to keep St. John's hitless through the first three innings.
The Huskies got the lead off man on in the fourth via an error. After a strikeout and a line out, though, the runner was caught trying to steal second to end the inning. The Red Storm, though, was set down in order in the bottom of the fourth.
Yecker struck out two in a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, and in the bottom of the inning St. John's broke through.
Anninos led off the fifth with a bloop to center field. A charging Harold Brantley could not make the play and Anninos, hustling all the way, made it to second with a double. Carlos Del Rosario then laid down a sacrifice bunt, but UConn opted to throw to third. Anninos was safe on the play and Del Rosario reached first. Greg Hopkins then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play as Anninos came home to put St. John's up 1-0.
Pitching with the lead, Yecker continued his strong outing in the sixth. After allowing a one out single, the righty retired the next two batters to keep UConn off the board.
Hashem, though, also continued to pitch well in the sixth and tossed another 1-2-3 inning.
After allowing a single to lead off the seventh, Yecker's day was over and Miguel Valcarcel came in for St. John's. Valcarcel promptly struck out the first batter he faced, induced a fly out and struck out one more to end the inning.
The Huskies also went to the bullpen in the seventh as David Erickson relieved Hashem. Erickson got the first out of the inning before allowing an infield single to Anninos. Anninos then stole second base and Del Rosario walked to give St. John's runners on first and second. A double play, however, would end the inning and keep it a 1-0 game.
Valcarcel worked a 1-2-3 top of the eighth and Erickson countered with a 1-2-3 bottom of eighth.
Down 1-0 in the top of the ninth UConn came to the plate and St. John's went to Colin Lynch to close out the game. Lynch struck out the first two batters he faced before allowing a single. Lynch retired the next batter, though, to nail down his tenth save and complete the shutout.
