St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
13-2
Iona
4-7
No. 9 St. John's Tops Iona, 4-3
3/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
NORFOLK, Va. - Led by yet another stellar pitching performance from freshman Sean Mooney, the Red Storm moved to 13-2 on the season with a 4-3 win over Iona in a matchup of Northeast schools at Virginia Wesleyan College.
Mooney tossed eight innings of three-hit ball in his second career start, allowing only one run and striking out six during that stretch. In his two starts this season, Mooney has now compiled 16 strikeouts while surrendering just six hits and a pair of walks in 13 innings.
Junior Jesse Berardi tied a career-high with four hits, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs to pace the Red Storm offensively.
Senior catcher Troy Dixon recorded his first three-hit game of the season, while classmate Michael Donadio registered a hit and four walks on the afternoon.
John Valente, one of the nation's leaders in hits, notched his third double of the season and scored a pair of runs, extending his hitting streak to 27 games dating back to last season.
Freshman southpaw Joe LaSorsa recorded his first career save, coming on with one out in the bottom of the ninth and forcing a key double play ball that preserved the Red Storm lead.
The Red Storm threatened on plenty of occasions in the opening innings but could not seem to get a run across, as the Johnnies stranded five runners and hit into a pair of double plays in their first four offensive frames.
After retiring the first 11 Iona batters he faced, Mooney allowed a walk and surrendered two-consecutive singles in the bottom of the fourth, as Iona took a 1-0 lead.
The Johnnies wasted no time responding in the top of the fifth, plating a pair of runs to grab a 2-1 advantage. Robbie Knightes led off the frame with a four-pitch walk before Valente reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, which allowed both runners to move an additional 90 feet to second and third. With two runners in scoring position, Berardi delivered an RBI single up the middle to knot the contest at one. Next up was Anthony Brocato, who put the Red Storm ahead with an RBI grounder to short that scored Valente from third.
St. John's added another run in the top of the seventh, as Valente led off the frame with a double to left before advancing to third on a passed ball. He then scored on a Berardi single up the middle in the next at-bat for the shortstop's second RBI the day.
The Johnnies scored one final insurance run in the top of the ninth, as a Berardi single and two walks loaded the bases with one out. After Berardi scored on a wild pitch, the Gaels turned their third double play of the game to exit the inning with a three-run deficit.
Iona made a final push in the bottom of the ninth, scoring a pair of runs to shave the deficit to one, 4-3, with runners on first and second. With the game hanging in the balance, LaSorsa forced the pivotal double play ball, securing the victory for the Johnnies.
St. John's returns to action tomorrow afternoon, taking on UMass Lowell at 3 p.m. at Kenneth R. Perry Field in Norfolk.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mooney, Sean (1-0)
L: Maier, Bill (2-2)
S: LaSorsa, Joe (1)
Batting:
2B: Valente, John 1 ; Dixon, Troy 1
RBI: Berardi, Jesse 2 ; Brocato, Anthony 1
SH: Brocato, Anthony 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Valente, John 2 ; Berardi, Jesse 1 ; Knightes, Robbie 1
SB: Berardi, Jesse 2 ; Donadio, Michael 1
Batting:
RBI: Flannery, Matt 1 ; Scales, Sean 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kinsey, Fran 1 ; Picone, Brian 1 ; Switalla, Niko 1
CS: Budesa, Jon 1
