St. John's University Athletics
No. 22 St. John's Tops Temple, 3-2
4/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 8, 2008
QUEENS, N.Y. - The No. 22 St. John's baseball team scored twice in the first inning en route to a 3-2 win over Temple in non-conference action. Paul Karmas was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Gino Matias had a solo home run to lead St. John's (23-6). Matt Tosoni, meanwhile, earned the win and allowed just one run in 6.2 innings, struck out three and walked none. Mark Ortega went 2-for-4 and Matt Heltz had an RBI for Temple (14-14).
The Red Storm got right to work and scored in the first inning for the 15th time this season. With one out, Daniel Benedetti and Chris Anninos each walked. After a groundout advanced both runners, Karmas cleared the bases with a single to center that put St. John's up 2-0.
After allowing a two-out single in the first inning, Tosoni (3-0) retired the next seven batters and struck out the side looking in the third inning. In the fifth, however, Temple would get on the board. After a lead off single by Carmen Del Mastro, Ortega singled and Temple had runners on first and third. Heltz followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Owls behind 2-1. The run was also the first earned run allowed by Tosoni in 25.0 innings as a starter this season. After another single, a double play would get the Red Storm out of the inning.
St. John's added to its lead in the seventh and went up 3-1. With one out and a 2-1 count, Matias connected for a solo home run down the left field line. The home run for Matias marked the first of the second baseman's career.
After a lead off single in the bottom of the seventh, Tosoni induced a double play. A two-out double, though, would end the day for the lefty. Miguel Valcarcel would enter for St. John's and get the final out of the inning.
In the eighth, Temple got on the board again. After a lead off single to pinch hitter Jamie Abercrombie and a walk to Stan Orzechowski, Valcarcel struck out Byron McKoy for the first out. Sean Barksdale then reached on a fielder's choice, but a throwing error on the play allowed Abercrombie to score for Temple. Colin Lynch then entered the game with runners on the corners and one out. Lynch promptly induced a fly out to keep the runners on the corners with two outs. With Mike Kelch at the plate, Benedetti threw behind Orzechowski at third base. Orzechowski took off for the plate and third baseman Gil Zayas threw home to get the out.
Lynch needed just 12 pitches to set down the Owls in the ninth. The closer struck out Ortega looking to end the game and nail down his ninth save.
Notes: Karmas extended his hitting streak to 12 games ... Lynch recorded his 20th career save ... Lynch is just the second player in St. John's history to record career 20 saves and the closer now trails just Craig Hansen (26) for the all-time lead ... the Red Storm improved to 18-2 when scoring first.
