April 19, 2008

Box Score

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Senior lefty George Brown won his eighth game of the season as St. John's defeat Pittsburgh, 7-4, in the second game of a three-game set. Brown (8-0) scattered nine hits over 7.0 innings of work, allowing just two runs and striking out four. Chris Anninos was 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI, while Greg Hopkins was 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Every starter had at least one hit to pace the offense for St. John's (27-9, 10-4). Sean Conley and Dan Williams were each 4-for-5 at the plate to pace Pitt (12-22, 4-10).

In the top of the second, the Red Storm got on the board to take the early lead. Anninos opened the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. Hopkins then stepped to the plate and blasted an 0-1 pitch high over the left field wall for a two-run home run to put St. John's up 2-0.

The Panthers responded with one run in the third. After the first two batters of the inning reached, a groundout moved the runners to second and third. Dan Williams then singled to right field to plate Pitt's first run, but right fielder Anninos came up throwing and gunned down Sean Conley trying to score from second base.

Anninos went right back to work in the top of the fourth as he led off with a long home run over the fence in right center to put the Red Storm up 3-1. After Hopkins followed with a single, Carlos Del Rosario moved Hopkins up with a sacrifice bunt. Jeff Grantham then plated Hopkins with an RBI single and Daniel Benedetti followed with an RBI double that brought Grantham home. Brian Kemp then doubled to the gap in left center to bring home Benedetti and put St. John' up, 6-1. Gino Matias kept the inning going with a walk and Gil Zayas reached on an infield single to load the bases and bring Anninos to the plate for the second time in the inning. Pitt starter Corey Baker, however, induced a pop up to end the inning.

Pittsburgh responded with another run in the bottom of the frame to cut the Red Storm's lead to 6-2. After a one-out double by Joe Leonard, Zach Duggan singled to left field to bring home Leonard.

After tossing 7.0 strong innings, Brown was replaced by Miguel Valcarcel. The reliever got the first out of the inning before allowing a solo home run to Dan Williams to cut the lead to 6-3. After two walks gave Pitt runners on first and second with two outs, St. John's went to the bullpen and brought in Colin Lynch. Pitt countered, however, by pinch hitting with Chris Warner. With the count full, Lynch blew a fast ball past Warner to notch the strikeout and end the inning.

In the top of the ninth, Anninos put St. John's back up by four when he belted his second solo home run of the game to lead off the inning.

Lynch returned to mound in the ninth and promptly recorded the first two outs before allowing a double to Conley. Danny Lopez followed with an RBI single to make it a 7-4 game. Lynch allowed one more single before striking out Nick Mullins to end the game. For Lynch, the save was his eleventh of the year.

The two teams will finish the three-game on Sunday, April 20 at Noon.

Notes: Brown is now tied for tenth in the all-time St. John's record books with 21 career wins ... Brown is also tied for ninth all-time with eight wins in a single season ... Anninos is now tied for seventh all-time with 20 career home runs ... Lynch now has 22 career saves and trails just Craig Hansen (26) for the all-time school record.