Baseball Chalks 8-6 Win At St. John's
Photo: Nolan Gaige went 3-for-5 and scored two runs in Tuesday's win.
BOX SCORE I SEASON STATS
QUEENS, N.Y. – In Tuesday's nationally broadcasted contest, the University at Albany baseball program chalked an 8-6 win over St. John's University -- the reigning BIG EAST champion and 2012 Super Regional participant. Never trailing in the victory, UAlbany improved to 14-15-1 on the season, while the Red Storm fell to 15-22 overall.
The Great Danes boasted one of their best offensive performances of the season, pounding out 14 hits and eight runs against the hosts. Seniors Nolan Gaige and Greg Muller both went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Junior Josh Nethaway (2-for-5) and sophomore Craig Lepre (2-for-3) also piloted UAlbany with multi-hit efforts.
On the mound, senior Austin Chase (3-3) earned the win, tossing the opening three frames, allowing one run and three hits, while striking out two. The staff day also saw action from UAlbany's underclassmen Brendan Ryan, Stephen Carey, Sam DeCelle, and Ryan Stinar.
Proving again the importance of an early lead, UAlbany took a 2-0 head start in the top of the third -- the Great Danes are now 12-4-1 in games when they take the initial advantage. Leading off the inning, Lepre, Gaige, and Muller lined consecutive singles, scoring one, and Gaige crossed the plate on an infield double play.
The Red Storm took one run back in the bottom of the inning, using a single, double, and sacrifice fly to make the score 2-1.
In the fourth, the squads traded runs, as Lepre knocked home Brian Bullard with a sacrifice fly to right, and Kyle Lombardo belted a solo home run in the bottom of the frame for St. John's.
UAlbany stretched its lead to 5-2 in the fifth, plating two unearned runs off reliever Matt Clancy. Muller led off with a single and Gordon Madej reached on a fielding error at second base. Muller crossed the plate on D.J. Hoagboon's sacrifice fly to right and Madej took advantage of a wild pitch, scoring a run.
Again, St. John's cut the margin down by one, scoring an unearned run of its own in the fifth to make the score 5-3.
In the sixth, the Great Danes crossed the plate for the fourth straight inning. UAlbany expanded its lead to four, 7-3, as Gaige, Muller, Madej, and Nethaway strung together four consecutive singles with two outs, scoring two.
The Danes' four-run cushion became a key factor in the bottom of the eighth, as two walks and a three-run blast by Pat Talbut made it a one-run game, 7-6.
However, UAlbany added an insurance run in the top of the ninth, as Adam Mund drew a leadoff walk and scored on Luke Burns' single through the left side. The Red Storm threatened in the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff single, but from there closer Ryan Stinar sat the hosts down in order and earned his fourth save of the season.
The Red Storm also used five arms in the contest with starter Ryan McCormick (2-5) taking the loss.
The victory marked UAlbany's third win against St. John's in program history, including the first since 2010.
The Great Danes look to carry their success into the weekend when they play host to Hartford in an important America East Conference three-game series. Saturday's doubleheader is set for 1:00 p.m. at Varsity Field. Sunday's single game is also slated for 1:00 p.m.
