St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
12-7
Wagner
12-10
Johnnies Down Wagner, 3-1, to Win Third-Straight Contest
3/27/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Final Stats | Box Score (PDF) | Photo Gallery 
QUEENS, N.Y. - Anchored by yet another stellar pitching performance, the St. John's baseball team won its third-straight decision on Tuesday afternoon, topping Wagner, 3-1, at Jack Kaiser Stadium.
Sophomore Jeff Belge put forth what was arguably the best start of his career, allowing just three hits and a walk in six shutout frames. The 6-foot-5 southpaw struck out five in that span.
Joe LaSorsa earned his fourth save of the year, entering the game with runners on the corners and the go-ahead run at the plate in the top of the ninth with one out. The sophomore quickly kick started a 1-6-3 double play to end the game.
Turner French recorded all three of his outs by way of strikeout, while Gavin Hollowell surrendered just his first earned run of the season in his eighth appearance. Freshman right hander Sam Lara made his St. John's debut, striking out one.
The Red Storm pitching staff has now allowed just two earned runs in its last 32 innings of work.
Leading the way at the plate once again for the Red Storm was John Valente, as the graduate student recorded his 11th multi-hit game of the year with a 2-for-4 effort. The New Rochelle native's hitting streak now sits at 22 games dating back to last season and he has now reached base safely in 35-straight contests.
Luke Stampfl and Anthony Brocato each registered a base knock and an RBI for the Johnnies, while Josh Shaw notched his team-leading seventh double of the season.
Freshman Chris Stefl reached base in all three of his plate appearances, going 1-for-1 with a pair of walks and a run scored.
Following three scoreless innings to start the contest, the Red Storm broke through with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. After retiring the frame's first two batters in just four pitches, Wagner pitcher Pat Gallagher hit Robert Boselli III before surrendering an eight-pitch walk to Stefl. With runners on first and second, Stampfl ripped a single to left, scoring Boselli from second and giving the Red Storm a 1-0 lead. Before Gallagher could deliver a pitch to the next batter, the Johnnies scored again, as a pickoff attempt to second ricocheted off Stefl's leg and shot into right field, allowing the freshman to come all the way home and the Johnnies to take a 2-0 advantage.
Following a couple more scoreless frames, the Red Storm added another run in the home half of the seventh. After Valente led off with a double down the left field line and stole second, Brocato pushed a textbook bunt down towards first base scoring Valente and reaching safely to push the Johnnies' lead to three.
Wagner plated its lone run of the game in the ninth, but LaSorsa managed to end the threat and record the save thanks to some solid defense. With runners on the corners and the Red Storm lead down to two, the sophomore cleanly fielded a comebacker before firing to second for Stampfl, who then sent it over to first and sealed the victory.
St. John's hits the road tomorrow, traveling to Minnesota for a three-game set with the Golden Gophers beginning on Thursday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Belge, Jeff (1-3)
L: Pat Gallagher (1-3)
S: LaSorsa, Joe (4)
Batting:
RBI: Kyle Cala 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Anthony Godino 1
SB: Nick Mascelli 1 ; Sean Mazzio 1
Batting:
2B: Valente, John 1 ; Shaw, Josh 1
RBI: Brocato, Anthony 1 ; Stampfl, Luke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Valente, John 1 ; Boselli III, Robert 1 ; Stefl, Chris 1
SB: Valente, John 1 ; Miller, Brandon 1 ; Boselli III, Robert 1
CS: Galazin, Jamie 1 ; Brocato, Anthony 1 ; Stefl, Chris 1 ; Antico, Mike 1
HBP: Boselli III, Robert 1
