Jimmy Keenan Walks Off in St. John’s 8-7 Triumph over UAlbany

Sunday, March 12

Queens, N.Y. (Kaiser Stadium)

1 p.m.

St. John's University

9-5

UAlbany

2-7-1

UAlbany

St. John's

Photo by: Christine Heeren

Jimmy Keenan Walks Off in St. John’s 8-7 Triumph over UAlbany

3/12/2023 4:52:00 PM | Baseball

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The Johnnies’ freshman went 4-for-4 with three RBIs, including the game-winning single in the ninth

QUEENS, N.Y. – Trailing by as many as four on Sunday, the St. John's baseball team rallied with five unanswered runs and a walk-off single by freshman Jimmy Keenan to take the rubber match from UAlbany, 8-7, at Jack Kaiser Stadium.

With runners on the corners after back-to-back singles by Luke Orbon and Kevin Michaels to start the bottom of the ninth, Keenan slapped the first pitch he saw down the third-base line, handcuffing UAlbany's Will Binder on a sliding backhand and scoring Orbon from third for the one-run victory.

The Red Storm's starting catcher went off on a 4-for-4 day at the dish with three RBIs and a run scored. Keenan became the first Johnnie to smack a walk-off base knock since teammate Paul Orbon slapped a game-winning single against Georgetown on May 15, 2022.

After missing Saturday's contest due to the passing of his grandfather, redshirt junior David Glancy put forth a valiant effort with two key hits on Sunday. The Neptune, N.J., native smacked his fourth home run of the season while scoring twice.

Outfielder Paul Orbon tallied three hits and two RBIs while Marty Higgins chipped in two runs scored on Sunday. Six of the team's nine starters produced multi-hit showings against the Great Danes, including Kevin Michaels with three.

St. John's (9-5) relievers Dylan Johnson, Mario Pesca, Nick Cirelli and Chuck Sanzio managed to hold UAlbany (2-7-1) off the scoreboard through the final six innings, striking out eight batters and allowing just four hits over that span.

The Johnnies broke through in the opening frame with a three-run first. Glancy beat out an infield single before Machado was hit by a pitch, setting up Michaels for an RBI single to left and taking a 1-0 lead. After a walk to Higgins to load the bases, Keenan laced a single through the left side, knocking in Machado and Michaels for the three-run advantage.

After a scoreless second inning, the Great Danes strung together seven runs on six hits in the third to claim a four-run edge, 7-3.

The Johnnies threatened in the second and third innings, loading the bases in both before UAlbany shut down the opportunities and kept its lead at four. The Red Storm broke through on a two-out opportunity in the fourth as Orbon laced a two-run double to left-center, bringing Higgins and Keenan around to score and slashing the advantage to two, 7-5.

As St. John's relievers combined to hold the Great Danes scoreless, the offense chipped away with one run in each of the final three frames. With two outs in the seventh, Glancy felt the presence of his late grandfather as he ripped a solo shot to deep left, pointing at the sky as he cut the Johnnies' deficit to one, 7-6.

The Red Storm tied the game at seven in the eighth inning as Higgins slid around the Great Danes' catcher on pinch hitter Blake Mayberry's fielder's choice.

Sanzio had two quick putouts before working into a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth. The righty painted the corner and struck out Feil, marking his third strikeout of the afternoon to keep the game tied at seven and setting up the last-inning theatrics. Sanzio also picked up his second win of the season with his 1.1 innings out of the pen.

St. John's will return to action this week, taking on LIU at LIU Baseball Stadium in Brookville in a midweek matchup. Due to forecasted inclement weather moving through the New York City area on Tuesday, the Johnnies and the Sharks will square off in a 3 p.m. contest on Wednesday, March 15.