Queens, N.Y. ? Third baseman Greg Hopkins hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning to break open the game, leading St. John's to an 8-6 win over UAlbany in non-conference baseball action on Friday afternoon at Jack Kaiser Stadium.

            After St. John's took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, the Great Danes responded with a single run in the top of the second, as Kyle Crean knocked a base hit to centerfield to score Mike Tirri. The freshman first baseman was also responsible for one of UAlbany's two runs scored in the third. Tirri singled to drive in West, who was walked, before Pete DiResta hit a sacrifice fly to score Ryan Gugel, giving the Great Danes a 3-1 lead.

            The Red Flash scored again in the bottom of the fourth, after Tim Morris had a lead off double. UAlbany starter Josh Willimott struck out two of the next three batters, but walked Joe Panik to get two on base for St. John's. Gino Matias recorded a single to load the bases, and centerfielder Brian Kemp drew a walk to send Morris home. Willimott recorded his fifth strikeout of the game, getting shortstop Matt Wessinger looking to end the inning.

            St. John's tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, as Matias drove an RBI single up the middle, scoring catcher Danny Benedetti. The Red Flash broke the game open in the seventh, scoring three runs on the homer by Hopkins. Jimmy Parque opened the frame with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Paul Karmas. UAlbany right hander Sean Gregory, who relieved Willimott in the sixth, intentionally walked Morris to put two runners on base for St. John's. With one out, Hopkins drove a shot over the fence to score three runs.

            The Red Flash, who won the Big East championship last season, scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom half of the eighth, as Wessinger and Scott Ferrara both made it across home on a UAlbany fielding error. The Great Danes mounted a rally in the top of the final inning, as pinch hitter Jamie Liebowitz, left fielder Gary Pitcheralle and shortstop Sean Donovan recorded three consecutive singles to load the bases. Brendan Rowland and Gugel each drove in a run with groundouts, while Dave West sent Donovan home with a single to left field. Miguel Valcarcel came in to pitch for St. John's, relieving Kevin Kilpatrick, and got the save, striking out Tirri.

            Willimott went 5.1 innings on the mound for UAlbany, fanning five and allowing just one earned run. Gregory picked up the loss for the Great Danes. Kilpatrick earned the win for St. John's (5-6), striking out three over 2.2 innings of work.

            UAlbany (1-8) will return to action on Saturday, visiting New York Tech for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.

-agate-

UAlbany (1-8)    012       000       003       -           6          9          4

St. Johns (5-6)  100       101       32x       -           8          9          2

            UAlbany: Josh Willimott, Sean Gregory (6), Ryan White (8) and Ryan Gugel.

            St. John's: Nick Luisi, Nick Cenatiempo (5), Kevin Kilpatrick (6), Miguel Valcarcel (8) and Danny Benedetti.

St. John's 8, UAlbany 6(Mar 13, 2009)

Score by Innings                    R  H  E
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Albany.............. 012 000 003 -  6  9  4
St. John's.......... 100 101 32X -  8  9  2
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