St. John’s Captures 7-3 Victory over Creighton

Friday, May 3

Queens, N.Y. (Kaiser Stadium)

3 p.m.

St. John's University

29-11-1, 0

Creighton

31-12, 0

Creighton

St. John's

5/3/2024 6:39:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Ben Beauchamp and Blake Mayberry drive in two runs apiece in Friday’s win

QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's baseball team (29-11-1, 9-4) secured a 7-3 victory over Creighton (31-12, 4-8) at Jack Kaiser Stadium on Friday.

Right fielder Ben Beauchamp reached base safely in four of his five plate appearances, drawing two walks and going 2-for-3 at the dish with two RBIs and a run scored. Third baseman Blake Mayberry chipped in two RBIs as well, posting a 3-for-5 outing against the Bluejays.

Anthony Brienza and Jackson Tucker each added a three-hit day in the Red Storm's win, seeing the latter score twice on the afternoon. Luke Orbon also crossed home plate on two occasions, while Brienza drove in a run and scored once on Friday.

The Johnnies took an early advantage following a leadoff single from Tucker and a double by Beauchamp. Mayberry fought off a 2-2 pitch and laced an RBI base knock to right-center for a 1-0 lead. Jimmy Keenan added another run in the ensuing at-bat, sending a deep sacrifice fly to left and bringing Beauchamp around to score for a 2-0 edge.

Starter Kyle Chase shut down the Bluejays' lineup through the first three innings, striking out two batters and working out of a first-and-second jam in the third frame.

Creighton pushed one run across in the top of the fourth to cut its deficit to one, 2-1, as Matt Scherrman crossed on a single to center. Louis Marinaro came on in relief and stranded runners on second and third to end the inning.

The Red Storm added one run in the bottom of the fifth to reclaim a two-run lead. With runners on the corners, Mayberry smacked an RBI single to the left side, bringing Beauchamp around to score and lifting the Johnnies to a 3-1 lead.

The southpaw Marinaro continued to battle the Bluejays into the seventh. The Croton on Hudson, N.Y., native allowed a leadoff double in the sixth, but retired the final five batters of his outing to stifle Creighton. The left-hander finished with four strikeouts on the day and allowed just two hits in his 3.1 innings of work en route to his sixth win of the year.

Left fielder Garrett Scavelli extended his reached base streak to 28 games with a one-out single to right in the eighth before the Red Storm exploded for four runs in the frame. Luke Orbon took a pitch off the foot and advanced 90 feet to put runners on second and third with two outs. Brienza laced a single off the outstretch glove of diving second baseman Kyle Hess, bringing two runs across on the play. After Tucker legged out a bunt single, Beauchamp dropped a double down the right-field line to knock two more across and lift the Johnnies to a six-run advantage, 7-1.

Despite allowing two runs in the ninth, reliever Tim Cunningham picked up his first career save after tossing 2.1 innings of work. The submariner struck out two batters, including Colby Canales to end the game.

The Red Storm will go for win No. 30 tomorrow afternoon when it returns to Jack Kaiser Stadium to face Creighton. Originally slated for one game, due to inclement weather expected on Sunday, the Red Storm and Bluejays will square off in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Alumni Day festivities will still start at 1 p.m. inside the Belson Stadium suite.