April 18, 2008

Box Score

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The St. John's baseball team fell to Pittsburgh, 6-3, in the opening game of a three-game series with the Panthers. Gino Matias was 1-for-4 with a home run, while Paul Karmas was 1-for-4 with a two-run home run to pace St. John's (26-9, 9-4). Nate Reed allowed three runs in 7.1 innings of work to lead Pittsburgh (12-21, 4-9).

The Panthers took an early lead 2-0 in the bottom of the second. After a one-out single by Morgan Kielty, Joe Leonard connected for a two-run home run over the right field fence. Red Storm starter Scott Barnes then struck out his third batter of the game and induced a fly out to get out of the inning.

In the top of the third inning, the Red Storm also used the long ball to get on the board. With one out, Gino Matias connected for a solo home run over the left field wall and St. John's trailed 2-1.

Barnes allowed a lead off single in bottom of the third, but quickly retired the side beginning with his fourth strikeout. After St. John's catcher Daniel Benedetti threw out Jordan Herr trying to steal second, a ground out ended the third frame.

The Panthers took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. After singles by Nick Mullins and Morgan Kielty, Leonard hit an RBI ground rule double to right. With runners on second and third and one out, Pitt then failed in an attempted suicide squeeze. On the play Philip Konieczny missed the bunt attempt and Benedetti applied the tag well before home plate. Another run would score, however, on a wild pitch before an inning-ending ground out.

Pitt added a run in the fifth after Zach Duggan led off with a single. After stealing second and advancing to third on a groundout, Duggan scored on a balk. The Panthers would also plate a run in the sixth on an RBI fielder's choice to take a 6-1 lead.

In the seventh, Gil Zayas singled through the right side with two outs. Benedetti followed with a single of his own to give St. John's runners on first and second. Reed though would induce a fly out to end the inning and keep it a 6-1 game.

St. John's would put up two runs in the eighth to cut Pitt's lead to 6-3. Jeff Grantham singled to center with one out to get things started for the Red Storm. Paul Karmas then belted a towering two-run home run over the left field fence to chase Reed from the game. Reliever David Kaye, however, would get the final five outs of the game.

The two teams will return to the field on Saturday, April 19 at 3 p.m. for the second game of the three-game set.

Notes: The home run for Matias was the second of his career ... the second baseman had his first career home run on April 8 against Temple ... Karmas had his seventh career multi-RBI game ... Karmas and Carlos Del Rosario each have seven multi-RBI games to lead St. John's.