St. John's Drops Regional Opener, 2-0, to Vanderbilt

Friday, June 1

Clemson, S.C. (Doug Kingsmore Stadium)

12:00 PM

St. John's University

39-16

Vanderbilt

32-25

St. John's

Vanderbilt

St. John's Drops Regional Opener, 2-0, to Vanderbilt

6/1/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

June 1, 2018

Final Stats | Box Score (PDF) | Photo Gallery

CLEMSON, S.C. - Despite receiving eight innings of two-run ball from sophomores Sean Mooney and Joe LaSorsa, St. John's found it hard to capitalize against the Vanderbilt pitching staff, dropping the opening game of the NCAA Clemson Regional, 2-0.

Drake Fellows tossed seven scoreless innings for the Commodores, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out eight.

"I think it's very simple. I think you saw a well-pitched ballgame on both ends and in tournament play it's pitching, defense, and timely hitting," said Head Coach Ed Blankmeyer after the game. "Obviously we had a couple, very few, opportunities, and we didn't take advantage of them."

St. John's left seven runners on base in the game, four of whom ended an inning in scoring position.

Josh Shaw registered a pair of singles for the Red Storm, becoming the 24th player in St. John's history to reach the 200-hit mark for his career. Shaw, a junior, entered elite company by becoming just the seventh individual to accomplish the feat in three years, joining the likes of Joe Panik, Jeremy Baltz, Mike Druzilla, Sam DeLuca, Brian Kemp and Greg Hopkins.

John Valente doubled while Luke Stampfl and Wyatt Mascarella also added base knocks. Valente now has four career hits at the Clemson Regional, all of them two-baggers.

Mooney picked up the loss, falling to 11-3 on the year despite striking out four in 5.2 frames of two-run ball. LaSorsa tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.

After the Johnnies went down in order in the top of the first, Vanderbilt strung together three hits in the home half of the frame to take a 1-0 lead after one.

Fellows retired 10-straight batters to start the contest, but St. John's finally threatened in the top of the fourth. Jamie Galazin drew a one-out walk to give the Red Storm its first baserunner of the day before Shaw looped a single into right, putting Johnnies on the corners with one down. Vandy quickly worked a pair of pop-ups; however, escaping the jam and preserving its lead at 1-0.

Vanderbilt struck again in the home half of the fifth, as Jayson Gonzalez lifted an opposite-field solo shot to right with two outs in the frame, extending the Commodores' lead to a pair entering the sixth.

After St. John's left a pair of runners on base in the top of the inning, Mooney found himself in trouble during the home half, as the sophomore loaded the bases with two outs before handing the ball off to LaSorsa. The southpaw needed just two pitches to escape the jam, working a grounder to second and keeping the Red Storm within two.

Following a scoreless frame from LaSorsa in the seventh, the Johnnies registered another scoring opportunity in the top of the eighth. After Valente reached on an error with one down, Shaw poked a two-out single into right before swiping second, giving St. John's a pair of runners in scoring position. Robert Boselli III lifted a deep fly ball to right, but JJ Bleday made the play for the Commodores and kept the Johnnies off the board.

Chandler Day tossed a scoreless ninth for the Commodores, registering his third save of the season.

St. John's will next face the loser of Friday's night game between Clemson and Morehead State. First pitch for that contest featuring the Red Storm is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday on ESPN3.