Published: April 11, 2007
QUEENS, N.Y.
St. John's rolled to a pair of seven-inning wins over Fairleigh
Dickinson on Wednesday, beating the Knights 7-2 and 12-2 to extend
its winning streak to six games. The Red Storm batted .404
(23-for-57) in the two games and stole 10 bases on 11 attempts on
the way to its 15th and 16th consecutive wins over FDU.
Thirteen of the 15 position players who saw action for St.
John's either scored a run or recorded an RBI in the two games, as
the offense put forth a balanced effort. The Red Storm was also
active on the basepaths and solid on the field, committing just one
error in the two games, and the pitching staff continued its
efficient work with 13 strikeouts and three walks in 14
innings.
Gil Zayas led the way offensively, hitting two doubles and
collecting a team-high five RBI. Freshman
Brian Kemp started both games in left field and stole three
bases in Game Two to up his season total to 13 in 15 attempts.
Sophomore
Jared Yecker got a win after pitching five scoreless innings in
Game One, while
Anthony Smith got the win in relief of starter
B.J. Martin in Game Two.
GAME ONE
St. John's jumped on top with two runs in the first inning
and never trailed in Game One, beating the Knights 7-2 and
extending its win streak to five games. Yecker allowed just three
hits over five shutout innings to even his season record at 3-3, as
he and freshman
Matt Owens combined to walk just one FDU hitter in the
seven-inning game.
Sam DeLuca and Zayas combined to drive in four of the Red
Storm's seven runs, and the offense went for nine hits, while
walking five times and striking out just once.
Jeff Grantham helped turn the lineup over from the bottom,
going 2-for-2 with a walk, stolen base and two runs scored. Catcher
Brendan Monaghan did not record an official at-bat, but reached
three times via walk and stole two bases.
An RBI single by Grantham in a two-run St. John's second inning
held up as the game-winner. The junior's line drive single into
right field scored
Daniel Rose to open up a 3-0 lead, and the Red Storm went on to
a 7-0 advantage through five innings.
FDU scored its first runs in the top of the sixth, but Owens
worked through a scoreless seventh to close out the win.
GAME TWO
Fairleigh Dickinson closed to within two runs, 3-1, in the top of
the fourth, but St. John's scored six runs on five hits in the
bottom half of the inning and cruised to a 12-2 win in Game Two.
Martin made his first career start for the Red Storm, going three
innings and allowing two hits and one run, while striking out four
in a no-decision.
All of the decisive fourth-inning rally came with two outs as
FDU reliever Ryan Gagnon got two quick outs before surrendering a
single to freshman
Jose Iglesias. Five more Red Storm hitters reached base
consecutively, with a two-run single by
Chris Joachim, a three-run double by Zayas and an RBI single by
Ryan Mahoney highlighting the scoring.
For the trio of Mahoney, Joachim and Zayas, two-out hits have
come regularly, as they are the Red Storm's top three run producers
with two outs.
Smith relieved Martin with no outs and runners on second and
third and got three quick outs to protect a 3-1 lead. Smith worked
through the fifth and gave way to
Rich Armento, who made his first appearance in more than a
month, and
James Lally, who finished the game with a perfect ninth.
The Red Storm gets back to BIG EAST Conference action this
weekend, welcoming Pitt to Jack Kaiser Stadium for a three-game
series beginning on Friday at 3 p.m.