May 3, 2008

Box Score

QUEENS, N.Y. - George Brown held the West Virginia offense in check with a strong 7.0 inning performance and the No. 24 Red Storm baseball team defeated the Mountaineers, 10-3, in the second game of a three-game BIG EAST set. Greg Hopkins was 5-for-5 with a pair of RBI, while Daniel Benedetti was 1-for-3 with three RBI to lead St. John's (34-10, 15-5). Brown (9-0) allowed just three runs on seven hits and stuck out three for the Red Storm. Tyler Kuhn had three hits and Vincent Belnome was 2-for-4 with two RBI to pace West Virginia (32-13, 11-9).

The Mountaineers took the early 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first. After Justin Parks was hit by a pitch to lead off the game, Tyler Kuhn singled up the middle. A 6-4-3 double play allowed Parks to move to third. Vincent Belnome then doubled to left field to bring in Parks and put West Virginia on the board.

West Virginia went up 2-0 in the top of the third. Kuhn tripled with two outs and Jedd Gyorko followed with an RBI single into center field.

With two outs in the bottom of the third, the Red Storm offense went to work. After Gino Matias was plunked by a Stephen Morrison pitch, he moved to third on a passed ball and Jeff Grantham walked to give St. John's runners on the corners. Paul Karmas then sent a high fly ball into left field. The left fielder, however, could not make the play and was charged with an error that allowed both runners to score to tie the game at 2-2.

Greg Hopkins led off the fourth for St. John's with a double to left field. Michael Aicardi then laid down a bunt, but Morrison fell down and could not make the play as Aicardi reached with an infield single. Daniel Benedetti then sent a sacrifice fly into right field to plate Hopkins and give the Red Storm a 3-2 lead.

Grantham led off another run-scoring innings with a walk in the fifth. Karmas followed with a grounder to short and West Virginia went for the force at second, but Grantham beat the throw. Gil Zayas then laid down a bunt and the Mountaineers again went for the force and got Grantham out at third. With two outs, Hopkins singled up the middle on the first pitch he saw to plate Karmas. Aicardi followed with a second straight RBI single to put St. John's up 5-2.

Meanwhile, after the RBI single in the third, Brown retired the next eight batters before allowing a one-out double in the sixth. Belnome followed with an RBI single before Brown ended the inning by inducing a double play.

In the top of the seventh, a lead off walk to Zayas prompted West Virginia to go to the bullpen. Reliever Fetterly got the first out of the inning before allowing a single to Hopkins. After the second out, Benedetti doubled to plate two runs. Scott Ferrara then singled to give St. John's runners on the corners with two outs. With Matias at the plate, Ferrara took off for second and got caught in a pickle. With Ferrara caught up, Benedetti raced towards the plate and touched home to give St. John's an 8-3 lead just before Ferrara was tagged for the third out.

St. John's plated two more runs in the eighth after Grantham singled with one out to set the table. A single by Karmas moved Grantham to second and a walk to Zayas loaded the bases. Chris Anninos brought in Grantham with a sacrifice fly and Hopkins followed with an RBI single that put the Red Storm up 10-3.

The two teams return to action for the series finale at Noon on Sunday, May 4.

Notes: Hopkins had a career-high five hits ... Hopkins is the first St. John's player to collect five hits in a game this season ... Brown is now tied for fifth all-time with nine wins in a single season ... Brown now holds sole possession of tenth place with 22 career victories ... West Virginia was held to three runs or less in consecutive games for the first time since Feb. 23-24 against Akron.