Baseball Falls, 8-5, After Red Storm Rally
BOX SCORE
QUEENS, N.Y. – While the University at Albany baseball team held the lead into the sixth inning, the hosting St. John’s University Red Storm came from behind to take an 8-5 win Tuesday at Kaiser Stadium. St. John’s improved to 31-15 on the season, while UAlbany fell to 9-30 overall.
The Red Storm totaled 13 hits, while the Great Danes knocked six. Shortstop Richard Bacon led UAlbany at the plate with two hits and three runs batted in. In addition, D.J. Hoagboon, Evan Harasta, Craig Lepre, and Garrett Longhurst each contributed a hit for the Danes.
On the mound, freshman J.T. Genovese threw the opening four innings, allowing three runs and six hits, while striking out two in the no-decision. Out of the pen, Sam DeCelle tossed 2.0 frames, allowing two runs and three hits, while Terry Dugdale (0-1) took the loss in 1.1 innings of work, getting tagged for the unearned go-ahead run. Joe Romero threw the final two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs and three hits.
In the top of the first, UAlbany took a 3-0 lead, as Jeff VonMoser walked, Hoagboon singled up the middle, and Josh Nethaway was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Lepre then drew an RBI walk, and Bacon came through with a two-out single to left field, plating two more.
St. John’s took two runs back in the bottom half of the inning, using a single, walk, and Matt Harris’ two-run double to right.
Coupling a leadoff double by Lepre and a two-out two-bagger by Longhurst, the Great Danes took a 4-2 lead in the third,
However, the Red Storm hung around, scoring a run in the fifth on a pair of singles and an RBI groundout.
UAlbany inched away again with a run in the top of the sixth, as Cory Kingston walked and scored on a wild pitch.
However, St. John’s answered in the bottom of the inning, tying the score, 5-5, with two runs. The Red Storm rallied with two outs when Harris reached on a bunt single, advanced on an error and a stolen base, and then scored on a wild pitch. Bret Dennis represented the tying run, reaching on a bunt and scoring on Joseph Burns’ RBI fielder’s choice.
St. John’s took the lead for good in the seventh on Alex Caruso’s run. Caruso reached on an error, advanced on a single, and scored on Robert Wayman’s fielder’s choice.
The Red Storm tacked on two more runs in the eighth, using three singles, a walk, and a wild pitch to take an 8-5 advantage.
Shawn Hennie (2-0) earned the win for St. John’s throwing 2.1 innings of middle relief. The Red Storm’s sixth pitcher on the hill, Joe Kuzia, earned his 11th save of the season, throwing the final scoreless frame.
UAlbany will return to America East Conference play for the remainder of the season, traveling to Maine this Saturday and Sunday for a three-game series against the Black Bears. The Great Danes close the regular season at home versus Binghamton on May 16-17th.
