St. John's University Athletics
Thursday, April 6
Queens, N.Y. (Kaiser Stadium)
Noon
St. John's University
vs
No. 19 UConn
Tate Ballestero’s Two Home Runs Not Enough in 7-5 Setback to No. 19 UConn
4/6/2023 3:28:00 PM | Baseball
Starter Xavier Kolhosser also tossed six scoreless innings with six strikeouts
QUEENS, N.Y. (April 6, 2023) – Despite a two-homer performance from Tate Ballestero and six scoreless innings from starter Xavier Kolhosser, the St. John's baseball team dropped its BIG EAST opener to UConn, 7-5, at Jack Kaiser Stadium on Thursday.
Ballestero unloaded a 4-for-5 day at the dish, smashing a pair of long balls and driving in four of the Red Storm's five runs. His four hits and four RBIs matched his season and career-high, logging equal totals against UAlbany and also part of a two-homer performance. The Morristown, N.J., native also extended his reached base streak to 20 games.
Marty Higgins, Jace Jeremiah, Austin Machado and Aaron Mann all tallied one base knock in Thursday's contest.
Following a pair of blank frames, the Johnnies broke through on one swing of the bat in the third. Jeremiah smacked a leadoff single to center before Orbon took a pitch off the elbow. With runners on first and second, left-handed hitting Ballestero belted a three-run shot to left for the 3-0 edge.
Kolhosser dominated the UConn lineup through his six innings of work. After a seamless first two frames, the Wapppinger Falls, N.Y. native lit up the strike zone, allowing just two baserunners the rest of the way and posting 1-2-3 innings in the third and fourth. Kolhosser finished the day with six strikeouts and allowed just three hits.
The Huskies capitalized on the Red Storm's lone miscue of the day, tallying five runs in the top of the seventh.
St. John's battled back in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with one out. Jackson Tucker lined the first pitch he saw to center field and plated Machado from third, slashing the Johnnies' deficit to one, 5-4.
UConn put the game out of reach in the ninth as first baseman Ben Huber smacked a two-run shot to take a three-run advantage.
Ballestero tried to single-handedly will the Red Storm back into the contest with a ninth-inning solo shot to right but UConn closed the door on the two-run victory.
The Johnnies and Huskies will return to action at the Jack on Saturday as the two teams will wrap up the series with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
Ballestero unloaded a 4-for-5 day at the dish, smashing a pair of long balls and driving in four of the Red Storm's five runs. His four hits and four RBIs matched his season and career-high, logging equal totals against UAlbany and also part of a two-homer performance. The Morristown, N.J., native also extended his reached base streak to 20 games.
Marty Higgins, Jace Jeremiah, Austin Machado and Aaron Mann all tallied one base knock in Thursday's contest.
Following a pair of blank frames, the Johnnies broke through on one swing of the bat in the third. Jeremiah smacked a leadoff single to center before Orbon took a pitch off the elbow. With runners on first and second, left-handed hitting Ballestero belted a three-run shot to left for the 3-0 edge.
Kolhosser dominated the UConn lineup through his six innings of work. After a seamless first two frames, the Wapppinger Falls, N.Y. native lit up the strike zone, allowing just two baserunners the rest of the way and posting 1-2-3 innings in the third and fourth. Kolhosser finished the day with six strikeouts and allowed just three hits.
The Huskies capitalized on the Red Storm's lone miscue of the day, tallying five runs in the top of the seventh.
St. John's battled back in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with one out. Jackson Tucker lined the first pitch he saw to center field and plated Machado from third, slashing the Johnnies' deficit to one, 5-4.
UConn put the game out of reach in the ninth as first baseman Ben Huber smacked a two-run shot to take a three-run advantage.
Ballestero tried to single-handedly will the Red Storm back into the contest with a ninth-inning solo shot to right but UConn closed the door on the two-run victory.
The Johnnies and Huskies will return to action at the Jack on Saturday as the two teams will wrap up the series with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
Players Mentioned
C/INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballSt. John's Baseball vs Villanova Highlights 5.11.25
Sunday, May 11
St. John's Baseball vs Villanova Highlights 5.10.25
Saturday, May 10
St. John's Baseball vs Iona Highlights 4.29.2025
Tuesday, April 29
St. John's Baseball vs Rutgers Highlights 4.22.2025
Tuesday, April 22