April 28, 2008
NYIT GAMETRACKER
NYIT Live Audio
Fairleigh Dickinson GAMETRACKER
Fairleigh Dickinson Live Audio
QUEENS, N.Y. -
Following a series win over then-No. 24 Notre Dame, the St. John's baseball team returns to Queens for a 10-game home stand. The team opens its longest home stand of the season with a pair of non-conference games. On April 29 at 3 p.m., St. John's hosts NYIT to complete a home and home set. St. John's then hosts Fairleigh Dickinson beginning at 6 p.m. on April 30.
Inside The NYIT Series
St. John's and NYIT have 46 times, including once this season, and the Red Storm leads the all-time series, 37-9. The Red Storm defeated the Bears, 5-4, when the teams met earlier this season on April 2. Gil Zayas was 2-for-4 with three RBI, including the game-winning RBI single in the ninth. St. John's has won four straight against NYIT and 13 of the past 15 dating back to May 10, 2001.
Inside The Fairleigh Dickinson Series
The Red Storm has played Fairleigh Dickinson 45 times since 1960 and leads the series, 37-7-1. St. John's has won 16 straight dating back to 1990, while head coach Ed Blankmeyer is a perfect 12-0 against the Knights. In 2007, St. John's swept a double header with the Knights by scores of 7-2 and 12-2.
Stat Of The Week
0.29: Matt Tosoni boasts a 0.29 ERA as a starter this season, having allowed just one earned run in 31.1 innings.
STORMTRACKER
In The Polls
The Red Storm made its debut in the Baseball America poll, checking in at No. 24.
St. John's is also ranked No. 28 by the Ping!Baseball Web site.
Conference Kings
Matt Tosoni ranks first in the BIG EAST with a 1.87 ERA and also ranks eighth with a .236 opponent batting average.
George Brown is first in the BIG EAST with eight wins, fourth with a 2.62 ERA and 12th with a .246 opponent batting average.
Reliever Colin Lynch leads the conference with 12 saves.
Scott Barnes ranks fifth with a .223 opponent batting average.
On The Watch Lists
The NCBWA has named George Brown to the watch list for the Dick Howser Trophy awarded to the top player in collegiate baseball.
Lynch, meanwhile, has been named to the midseason watch list for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award presented to the top relief pitcher.
Offensive Trends
St. John's has outscored the opponents 98-40 in the first three innings of play.
The Red Storm is 16-1 when scoring in the first inning and 25-2 when scoring first.
St. John's is 23-0 when out-hitting the opponents.
The Red Storm is 23-1 when scoring at least six runs and 18-0 when scoring at least eight runs.
Projected Starters/2008 Statistics
4/29-RHP Ryan Cole/3-1, 3.93 ERA, 38 strikeouts, 34.1 innings, .274 opp/avg.
4/30-LHP Matt Tosoni/5-0, 1.87 ERA, 23 strikeouts, 43.1 innings, .236 opp/avg.
Scouting The NYIT Bears
The Bears are 12-23-1 this season, but just 2-16-1 away from home.
NYIT and St. John's have had three common opponents. The Bears split a pair of games with Hofstra and also beat Seton Hall and LIU in single game sets.
NYIT has dropped four straight, including three against then-No. 27 UNC-Wilmington.
Effrey Valdez is batting .300 with a team best five home runs. Valdez also has 28 RBI, five doubles and two triples.
Mike LaLuna leads the team with 29 RBI, while Denten Neil leads the team with eight doubles and 12 stolen bases.
Expected to start, Louie Bernardi is 2-2 with a 5.34 ERA and leads the team with three saves.
Projected Starter/2008 Statistics
Louie Bernardi/2-2, 5.34 ERA, 16 strikeouts, 30.1 innings, .261 opp/avg.
Scouting The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
The Knights come to Queens with a 9-31 record, including a 4-11 mark in NEC play.
FDU and St. John's share a pair of common opponents as the Knights dropped a pair of games to Seton Hall and split a four-game set with Wagner.
Zachary Sand paces the squad offensively with a team best .340 batting average and ten doubles. Sand is also tied for the team lead with three home runs and 26 RBI.
Matt Maher has three home runs to go with 23 RBI, a .298 batting average and 21 stolen bases.
Jeff Vincent bats .317 with 26 RBI, nine doubles and 11 stolen bases.
John O'Hara is 2-5, but leads the pitching staff with a 3.40 ERA and has tossed two complete games.
John Meadus is 3-5 with a 4.61 ERA, while Green is 3-3 with a 7.35 ERA.
Projected Starter/2008 Statistics
TBA
