April 20, 2008

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The St. John's baseball team won its fifth straight BIG EAST series after defeating Pitt, 11-8, in the third game of the set. Scott Ferrara had a home run and three RBI, while Paul Karmas added three hits and three RBI to lead St. John's (28-9, 11-4). Gil Zayas added a home run and two RBI for the Red Storm, while Carlos Del Rosario also had two RBI. Chris Warner was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI to lead Pitt (12-23, 4-11).

The Red Storm took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. After Pitt starter Rob Brant retired the first two batters, Paul Karmas kept the inning alive with a single to left field. Gil Zayas followed by launching a two run home run well over the left field fence. The home run for Zayas was his second of the year.

Pitt, however, would respond with a run in the bottom of the frame. After loading the bases with one out, Yecker induced a grounder to second. Gino Matias fielded it and appeared to tag the runner heading to second before throwing to first for the out. It was ruled, however, that no tag was made and a run came in from third. Yecker would end the inning with another grounder.

Greg Hopkins and Jeff Grantham each drew walks to lead off the second inning for St. John's. Carlos Del Rosario then singled to right to bring home Hopkins. The throw home, however, was cut off and Grantham was thrown out at third for the first out. Brant was able to retire the next two batters to get out of the inning.

In the bottom of the third, Chris Warner led off the inning with a solo home run to right center field to make it a 3-2 game.

St. John's plated four more runs in the fourth. After Chris Anninos was hit by a pitch and reached third on an errant pick off throw, Grantham walked. Del Rosario then brought home Anninos with a sacrifice fly. After Daniel Benedetti singled, the Red Storm had runners on first and third with two outs. Making just his sixth career start, Scott Ferrara then stepped to the plate and put St. John's up 7-2 with a three run home run; the first round tripper of his career.

Yekcer walked two batters to lead off the fourth and open a two run inning for Pitt. Matt Litzinger then laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Yecker threw the ball over the head of first baseman Zayas and a run came around to score. With no outs and runners on second and third, Danny Lopez grounded to third baseman Greg Hopkins. Hopkins proceeded to throw home to get the out and keep the score 7-3. An RBI groundout would make it 7-4 before Yecker would retire the side.

In the bottom of the fifth, Pitt plated two runs to make it a 7-6 game. After a two-out single, Warner doubled off of the wall in left to bring in Pitt's fifth run of the game. Following a walk that gave the Panthers two on with two out, Yecker was lifted in favor of Matt Tosoni. Pinch hitter Jordan Herr would double to plate one run before Tosoni induced a groundout to end the threat.

Benedetti led off the sixth for St. John's with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ferrara. Matias then walked to put runners on the corners with one down. Karmas then curled a double inside the right field line to plate both Benedetti and Matias and put the Red Storm up 9-6.

Ferrara led off the eighth with a bunt single and reached second on a throwing error. After a Matias sacrifice bunt pushed Ferrara to third, Karmas singled through the right side to plate Ferrara for the Red Storm's tenth run of the game. Zayas then walked and Anninos reached on a fielder's choice. Zayas would later come around to score on a wild pitch to put St. John's up 11-6.

Lopez led off the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run and, one out later, Sean Conley followed with a solo shot of his own to get Pitt within three at 11-8.

Luis Monell struck out the only batter he faced before being lifted in favor of Colin Lynch. Lynch would allow a double and a walk before getting a fielder's choice and groundout to pick up his 12 th save of the year. Tosoni (5-0) earned the win after allowing two runs in 3.1 innings in relief of Yecker.