March 20, 2008

Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Scott Barnes struck out 10 and the Red Storm offense pounded out 15 hits in a 12-5 win over Rutgers. Brian Kemp had three hits for the second straight game, Carlos Del Rosario was 3-for-5 with two RBI and every starter had at least one hit to lead St. John's (14-4, 1-0). Rutgers (5-10, 0-1) was held scoreless over the final five innings.

For the ninth time this season, St. John's scored in the first inning as Brian Kemp singled to right on just the second pitch of the game. Daniel Benedetti then doubled to right center to plate Kemp and the Red Storm had a 1-0 lead after just three pitches. After a one-out walk to Paul Karmas, Scarlet Knight starter Steve Holt settled down and got out of the inning without further damage.

In the bottom of the first, Barnes (2-1) set the tone in his first BIG EAST outing of the season by striking out Brett Garlick on just three pitches. Barnes would then strike out Victor Cegles before inducing a groundout to end the first.

In the second Rutgers would get on the board, however. Barnes walked the lead off batter and then allowed a two-run home run to Jaren Matthews. Following the Matthews home run, his third of the season, Barnes set down the next three batters.

St. John's would come right back though as Bendetti walked to lead off the third and advanced to second on a groundout. After Karmas singled to give St. John's runners on first and third, Hopkins tied the game at 2-2 with an infield single deep in the hole to short. Del Rosario then tripled to left center to drive in two runs and put the Red Storm back on top 4-2. Just two pitches later, Gil Zayas belted a two-run home run deep over the left field fence to extend the Red Storm's lead to 6-2.

Barnes returned to form in the third and struck out Donny Callahan and Garlick to lead off the inning on just seven pitches. Barnes would eventually strike out the side to tally five strike outs through the first three innings.

Rutgers would go to the bullpen in the fourth and bring in Kyle Bradley. After allowing a bunt single to Kemp, the reliever settled down and retired the side.

In the bottom of the inning, however, the Rutgers offense went back to work as Matthews led off the inning with a bloop double for his second hit in two at-bats. After a walk, Rutgers moved up both runners with a sacrifice bunt and Dan Betteridge tripled down the left field line to plate two runs. After a strikeout and an RBI infield single made it 6-5, Barnes tallied his seventh strikeout to end the inning.

After a scoreless fifth inning for both teams, Matias walked to lead off the sixth for St. John's and Kemp followed with an infield single. Benedetti then reached on a bunt single, but an errant throw to first allowed Matias to score. Kemp moved to third and Benedetti would end up on second as a result of the error. After an RBI groundout by Chris Anninos and a Karmas sacrifice fly, the Red Storm's lead was 9-5.

Barnes made short work of Rutgers in the sixth as the lefty struck out the first two batters and retired the side in order.

St. John's scored a run in the seventh after Zayas was hit by a pitch and moved to second when pitcher Ryan Beard overthrew first on a pick-off attempt. Tim Morris followed with an RBI single and St. John's went up 10-5.

Barnes would return to pitch in the seventh and pick up his tenth strikeout en route to retiring the side in order.

The Red Storm offense was held in check in the top of the eighth and, in the bottom of the inning, Ryan Cole replaced Barnes on the mound. After allowing a single and a walk, Cole struck out the next three batters.

St. John's added to its lead in the ninth as Del Rosario singled to lead off the inning. Morris followed with a one-out triple and eventually came home when Matias reached on an error.

Cole would notch two more strikeouts in the ninth to close out the game.

Notes: Kemp extended his hitting streak to 15 games ... Matias now has a 10-game hitting streak ... Barnes now has 199 career strike outs ... the Red Storm scored 10 or more runs for the fourth straight game ... the Red Storm collected 10 or more hits for the sixth straight game.