St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
USF
St. John's Drops Series-Opener Against USF, 13-4
5/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 7, 2010
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's had 11 hits, but left nine runners on base in a 13-4 series-opening loss to USF. Jeremy Baltz was 2-for-5 with two RBI to lead St. John's (30-14, 12-7). Joe Panik, Greg Hopkins and Paul Karmas added to hits apiece for the Red Storm. Stephen Hunt and Chad Taylor had three RBI apiece to lead USF (22-24, 13-6), while Randy Fontanez (4-6) scattered 10 hits and had 10 strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work to earn the win.
USF took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning after just three batters. Luis Llerena singled to lead off the game and scored on a Ryan Lockwood RBI triple to the gap in left center. Hunt followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, before Bruce Kern (5-5) retired the next three batters in order.
St. John's answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. After Panik singled with two outs, Baltz roped an RBI double to the wall in left field as the Red Storm pulled to within 2-1.
The Red Storm used three singles and a USF error to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second. After Karmas and Sean O'Hare led off with back-to-back singles, Scott Ferrara reached on an infield single with one out. An error on the play, however, allowed Karmas to score and tie the game.
The Bulls came right back with a two-run third to retake the lead, 4-2. Llerena singled to open the inning before Hunt connected for a two-run home run down the left field line.
USF added a run in the fourth to go up 5-2. Back-to-back errors opened the frame before Taylor added a bloop RBI single. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, Lockwood sent a roller in front of the plate and Kern charged home and made the tag at the plate.
Todd Brazeal led off a five-run fifth inning with a solo home run to left field before back-to-back doubles by Junior Carlin and Jonathan Koscso gave USF a 7-2 lead. Kern followed up a strikeout of Daniel Rockhold with a strikeout of Sam Mende, but a wild pitch allowed Mende to reach first and Koscso to score. St. John's then went to the bullpen and Taylor greeted reliever Eddie Medina with a two-run home run as USF went up 10-2.
Rockhold added an RBI single in the sixth before Jimmy Falla and Alex Mendez each added an RBI double in the seventh as USF took a 13-2 lead.
St. John's added two runs in the bottom of the seventh to close to within 13-4. After a one-out single by Jimmy Parque, Panik doubled off the wall in right field to set up runners on first and third. Baltz followed with an RBI single before Panik raced home on a wild pitch.
St. John's returns to action against USF at 1 p.m. on May 7.
