St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Columbia
St. John's Held Off By Columbia, 5-4
4/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's fell behind 5-1 in the middle innings, but could not complete its comeback attempt as the Red Storm was defeated by Columbia, 5-4. Michael Donadio went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while Alex Caruso went 2-for-5 with a run scored to lead St. John's (16-11). Starter Kevin Magee (1-3) took the loss after surrendering three runs, one earned, in 2.2 innings of work. Gus Craig was 3-for-4 with a run scored to lead Columbia (16-10), while Ryan Marks (2-2) tossed 3.0 scoreless innings of relief for the win.
St. John's grabbed the lead with a run in the second after opening the inning with back-to-back singles. Robbie Knightes led off with a single up the middle before moving to third on a Matt Harris single into right center. Jarred Mederos then drew a walk, but ball four was wild and Knightes scored from third to give the Red Storm a 1-0 lead.
Columbia, however, took advantage of an error and chased Magee as part of a three-run third. Logan Boyher walked to lead off the inning before Jordan Serena laid down a bunt, but reached on an error. A passed ball advanced both runners before John Kinne tied the game with an RBI single into center. Robb Paller followed with an RBI single before a run-scoring double play made it a 3-1 ballgame.
The Lions extended their lead to 5-1 in the sixth on sacrifice flies by Randell Kanemaru and Boyher.
St. John's answered back with a run in the bottom of the sixth after loading the bases with no outs. Donadio and Zach Lauricella led off with back-to-back singles before Knightes walked to load the bases. Mederos then made it 5-2 with a sacrifice fly.
The Red Storm continued to climb back with two runs in the seventh. Robert Wayman started things with a one-out single to left center before Caruso singled and advanced on the throw to leave St. John's with runners on second and third with one out. Donadio then flared an RBI single into left before Caruso scored on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 5-4. The Lions, however, were able to escape the inning with the lead as a groundout and a flyout ended the frame.
St. John's had the leadoff man reach in the ninth, but the potential tying run was stranded at second. Ty Blankmeyer reached on an error to start the inning, but a popped up bunt attempt kept the tying run at first. A groundout moved Blankmeyer to second, but a flyout ended the game.
St. John's returns to action at Kaiser Stadium and opens a three-game BIG EAST series against Seton Hall on April 10 with a 3 p.m. game on ESPN3.
