St. John’s Takes Series Finale, 11-6, at Houston

Sunday, February 25

Houston, Texas (Sanders Field at Schroeder Park)

2 p.m.

St. John's University

2-2

Houston

6-1

St. John's

Houston

2/25/2024 6:34:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Freshman Chad Falcon goes 3-for-5 with four RBIs and a run scored in victory over Cougars

HOUSTON, Texas – Freshman Chad Falcon helped the St. John's baseball team (2-2) erase a four-run deficit with four RBIs in an 11-6 victory over Houston at Schroeder Park. The Cougars (6-1) suffered its first loss of the season on Sunday.

Seven players registered multi-hit performances in the series finale, including three-hit showings from Falcon and Anthony Brienza, who both recorded one tally on Sunday.

Third baseman Blake Mayberry went 2-for-4 at the dish with a double and three runs scored. Adam Agresti, Ben Beauchamp and Garrett Scavelli also scored twice and logged a pair of base knocks against the Cougars. Agresti, alongside shortstop Luke Orbon, also drove in a pair of runs.

St. John's went 8-for-15 with runners in scoring position and drove in seven of its 11 runs with two outs.

The Red Storm fell behind early, surrendering four runs over the first three innings. St. John's broke through in the fourth inning with a four-spot on the board and never looked back.

Scavelli singled to start the frame and advanced to third on a Falcon base knock to right-center. Agresti legged out an infield single to bring Scavelli across for the first Red Storm run of the game. After Beauchamp beat out a bunt to load the bases, Max Aude tallied his first RBI of the season with a groundout to second base to bring Falcon home and pull within two, 4-2. In the ensuing at-bat, Orbon smacked an inside-out double down the left-field line, clearing the bases and knotting the game at four.

The Johnnies secured two more runs in the top of the fifth following a one-out single from Scavelli. The Red Storm left fielder moved over to third base after Mayberry doubled to center, putting two runners in scoring position. Falcon fought off three straight pitches with a 2-2 count before lacing a two-run single to center and giving St. John's a 6-4 advantage.

Houston threatened in the home half of the frame with runners on second and third. Reigning BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week Ben Adams came on in relief of Mario Pesca after 4.2 innings of work and derailed the Cougars' opportunity with a strikeout to Ace Reese, keeping the Johnnies ahead by two.

St. John's bumped its scoring stretch to eight unanswered runs with two tallies in the sixth. Falcon smacked another two-run single up the middle, bringing Mayberry and Brienza around for an 8-4 lead.

The Cougars registered one run in the bottom of the sixth on a Harold Coll RBI single, slashing their deficit to three, 8-5.

Red Storm reliever Jed Boyle made his first appearance with the Red Storm on Sunday and tossed a scoreless seventh inning, allowing just one baserunner.

The Johnnies unloaded three more runs in the top of the eighth to take an 11-5 lead. Following a one-out single by Mayberry, the Johnnies' third baseman advanced to third after a wild pitch and an groundout to first. Agresti took a 2-1 offering up the middle to knock in Mayberry. Four pitches later, Beauchamp doubled down the right-field line and brought Agresti in from first. Jimmy Keenan registered his second hit off the bench, taking an 0-2 pitch into left-center and knocking in Beauchamp for a six-run edge.

Houston tagged Boyle with one run in the bottom of the eighth. However, it was all the Cougars would get as closer Sam Mettert came on with two outs and ended the bases-loaded threat by inducing a groundout to short. The Indianapolis, Ind., native earned his first save of the season after closing the door in the ninth inning.

The Red Storm will continue its road trip in the Lonestar State, taking on the University of Texas on Tuesday. First pitch from UFCU Disch-Falk Field is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET