March 11, 2008
QUEENS, N.Y. -
After opening the season with 12-straight road games, the Red Storm baseball team returns to Queens to host Long Island University in its 2008 home opener. In a series that dates back to 1965, this will mark the 47th meeting between the two schools. The Red Storm leads the all-time series 31-15 and has a 20-5 advantage in home games. St. John's has a six-game winning streak against the Blackbirds and has also won eight of the past ten games. The Red Storm will also look to extend its five-game winning streak in home openers.
STORMTRACKER
Brian Kemp enters the game with a nine-game hitting streak. During the stretch Kemp has batted .325 (13-for-40) with four multi-hit games.
Paul Karmas leads the team with a .395 (15-for-38) batting average and batted .400 (6-for-15) during the four-game set with Northridge.
St. John's enters the game batting .290 as a team and has six players over the .300 mark.
The pitching staff, meanwhile, has a 3.76 ERA and holds opponents to a .226 batting average.
The Red Storm is 7-0 when out-hitting the opposition and is 5-1 when scoring first.
Scouting the LIU Blackbirds
The Blackbirds are coming off of a 16-35 season in 2007. The squad finished tied for seventh in the Northeast Conference with a 10-17 record.
LIU comes into Queens with an 0-8 record, including a 10-3 defeat at the hands of Toledo on Sunday, March 9.
Frank Dimasi leads the squad with a .444 batting average and also has a home run and a team-high tying eight RBI.
James Jones has eight RBI and has four steals in five attempts to go along with a .233 batting average.
Jones also pitches for the Blackbirds and has an 0-2 record with a 14.40 ERA this season. A year ago, the lefty went 2-6 with one complete game and a 7.25 ERA to go along with 47 strikeouts in 49.2 innings.
Also on the mound, John Slootmaker has a 4.50 ERA over 6.0 innings of work. Slootmaker has seven strikeouts and is holding opponents to a .158 batting average.
Kenny Cedel has 12 strikeouts in 9.2 innings spread over three appearances (two starts).
