2008 Woodie Awards
SJU struggles after hot start
Joseph Bellear, Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Sports
Missed opportunities haunted the St. John's baseball team on Sunday as the Red Storm dropped its second game in two days to No. 2 North Carolina in the finals of the Coca-Cola Classic Championship in Rock Hill, S.C.
The No. 24 Red Storm was unable to cash in on the chances that the Tar Heels attempted to give it in the
4-2 loss.
"We played poorly," head coach Ed Blankmeyer said. "We definitely didn't play our better baseball out there."
North Carolina jumped early on starting pitcher Ryan Cole. Cole surrendered two runs on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning to the
Tar Heels.
St. John's looked to rally in the top half of the second inning. Paul Karmas walked and Hopkins would later follow with a single. But the Johnnies would miss out on an opportunity for a big inning when Hopkins was picked off by UNC catcher Tim Federowicz. Gil Zayas then popped out to end the inning.
The Tar Heels tacked on another run in the third when Cole allowed back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third with no outs. But after a sacrifice fly gave UNC a 3-0 lead, Daniel Benedetti threw out Federowicz at second on a steal attempt. Cole then struck out Chad Flack to end the inning.
The offensive frustration would continue to mount for St. John's in the top of the fourth inning. St. John's managed to knock UNC starter Garrett Davis out of the game, but only after he recorded two strikeouts in the inning. With one man on, reliever Ryan Leach then walked Chris Anninos and Hopkins, but Leach rebounded and got Zayas to pop out to end the inning.
Cole was done after three innings of work and Blankmeyer turned to Matt Tosoni to keep the Red Storm in the game.
"Ryan did fine, we just decided to pull him early," Blankmeyer said. "We just thought Tosoni was a better match up against them at that point."
Tosoni allowed a single to open up the fourth that was quickly erased off a 6-4-3 double play.
The No. 24 Red Storm was unable to cash in on the chances that the Tar Heels attempted to give it in the
4-2 loss.
"We played poorly," head coach Ed Blankmeyer said. "We definitely didn't play our better baseball out there."
North Carolina jumped early on starting pitcher Ryan Cole. Cole surrendered two runs on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning to the
Tar Heels.
St. John's looked to rally in the top half of the second inning. Paul Karmas walked and Hopkins would later follow with a single. But the Johnnies would miss out on an opportunity for a big inning when Hopkins was picked off by UNC catcher Tim Federowicz. Gil Zayas then popped out to end the inning.
The Tar Heels tacked on another run in the third when Cole allowed back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third with no outs. But after a sacrifice fly gave UNC a 3-0 lead, Daniel Benedetti threw out Federowicz at second on a steal attempt. Cole then struck out Chad Flack to end the inning.
The offensive frustration would continue to mount for St. John's in the top of the fourth inning. St. John's managed to knock UNC starter Garrett Davis out of the game, but only after he recorded two strikeouts in the inning. With one man on, reliever Ryan Leach then walked Chris Anninos and Hopkins, but Leach rebounded and got Zayas to pop out to end the inning.
Cole was done after three innings of work and Blankmeyer turned to Matt Tosoni to keep the Red Storm in the game.
"Ryan did fine, we just decided to pull him early," Blankmeyer said. "We just thought Tosoni was a better match up against them at that point."
Tosoni allowed a single to open up the fourth that was quickly erased off a 6-4-3 double play.
Be the first to comment on this story