St. John's University Athletics
Backman, Ballestero Earn BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll Spots
5/9/2022 4:00:00 PM | Baseball
Duo helped the lead the Red Storm to a doubleheader sweep of Seton Hall on Sunday
QUEENS, N.Y.- After sweeping a Sunday doubleheader from Seton Hall on Sunday, Brandon Backman and Tate Ballestero have been named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll, the league office announced on Monday afternoon.
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In the second game of the doubleheader, Backman put together the best performance by a Red Storm starter this season, tossing a complete-game shutout with three strikeouts and two hits allowed. Backman's outing was the first shutout by a Johnnies pitcher since Sean Mooney blanked Maine on March 25, 2017 and the first complete game since Joe LaSorsa went the distance in a 3-1 win over Kansas on March 16, 2019. The graduate student lowered his ERA by a full run from 4.68 to 3.67 after Sunday. This marks the second weekly honor for Backman this season after being named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on April 4.
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Ballestero hit .500 (6-for-12) with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs. He also drew a walk to reach base at a .538 clip and chipped in four runs scored in three starts. On Tuesday against Marist, Ballestero launched his third round tripper of the season, a two-run shot to left center. After adding a hit and a run scored in the series-opening 8-6 win over Seton Hall, Ballestero went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored on the way to a 6-0 triumph over the Pirates in South Orange, N.J. Monday's announcement marks the first weekly honor for Ballestero in 2022.
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The Red Storm will be back in action on Wednesday when it welcomes Iona for the final home midweek matchup of the season. First pitch from Jack Kaiser Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m.
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In the second game of the doubleheader, Backman put together the best performance by a Red Storm starter this season, tossing a complete-game shutout with three strikeouts and two hits allowed. Backman's outing was the first shutout by a Johnnies pitcher since Sean Mooney blanked Maine on March 25, 2017 and the first complete game since Joe LaSorsa went the distance in a 3-1 win over Kansas on March 16, 2019. The graduate student lowered his ERA by a full run from 4.68 to 3.67 after Sunday. This marks the second weekly honor for Backman this season after being named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on April 4.
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Ballestero hit .500 (6-for-12) with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs. He also drew a walk to reach base at a .538 clip and chipped in four runs scored in three starts. On Tuesday against Marist, Ballestero launched his third round tripper of the season, a two-run shot to left center. After adding a hit and a run scored in the series-opening 8-6 win over Seton Hall, Ballestero went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored on the way to a 6-0 triumph over the Pirates in South Orange, N.J. Monday's announcement marks the first weekly honor for Ballestero in 2022.
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The Red Storm will be back in action on Wednesday when it welcomes Iona for the final home midweek matchup of the season. First pitch from Jack Kaiser Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m.
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