The St. John’s baseball team faced off in a crucial three game series against the Boston College Eagles this past weekend, losing the first two games but holding on in the series finale, salvaging their road-trip to Chestnut Hill.
In game one, the Eagles came back from a two-run deficit, scoring two runs in the sixth to earn a win 4-3 over the Red Storm.
The Red Storm took an early lead in the first when Billy Graiser walked, stole second and scored on a single to center by Charlie Bilezikjian.
The Eagles came back to tie the game in the third, scoring on a Red Storm error. St. John’s would score twice in the fourth, making the score 3-1.
With runners advancing to second and third after a sacrifice bunt by Ray Downs, Asa Grunenwald singled up the middle to score both runners.
Freshman starting pitcher Jim Wladyka gave a solid effort, and left the game with a 3-2 lead.
Reliever Tom Klemm entered the game with runners on the corners, and a single eventually scored the winning run, giving Boston College the 4-3 win.
The Red Storm jumped on top in the second inning of the second game when Graiser doubled to center and scored on a single up the middle by Downs.
The Eagles would take the lead for good as they scored two runs in the second and two runs in the third off starter Greg Holmes. The Red Storm would narrow the Eagle’s lead, scoring in the fifth on Graiser’s RBI double.
The Eagles would pull away with runs in the fifth and sixth, and two more in the eighth, to give them the 8-2 win.
Holmes went seven innings, allowing six runs on 14 hits as his record fell to 5-3.
On Monday, the Eagles would miss out on the sweep as they fell to the Red Storm in the final game of the series.
The Johnnies took the lead when Downs was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in a run.
The Red Storm’s 3-0 lead would be cut when the Eagles scored two runs in the second.
The Red Storm loaded the bases again in the third with a lead-off walk to Bilezikjian and singles by Jason Kane and Downs. The Red Storm could not capitalize, however, leaving the inning with the bases loaded
In the fifth, the Red Storm would add another run when Jim Martin hit a bloop single over the first baseman’s head to score Downs from second. The sixth would bring two more runs for the Red Storm, giving them a 6-2 lead.
The Eagles would make a comeback in the ninth, scoring four runs to tie the game and sending it into extra innings. In the tenth, following a single by Graiser and an intentional walk to Bilezikjian, pinch-hitter Jeremy Winter singled to right field, scoring both runners to make the score 8-6.
The Eagles did not have a chance in the tenth, going down 1-2-3 to relief pitcher Mike Tamulionis to end the game.
The Red Storm are now 23-19 overall and 10-10 in the Big East, sitting in a tight race for the fourth and final spot in the Big East Tournament.
