June 1, 2008

HOUSTON, Texas - The St. John's baseball team rallied to score two runs in the ninth, but was defeated by No. 19 Texas, 4-3, in a Houston Regional elimination game. Trailing 4-1 with two outs in the ninth, the Red Storm had five consecutive batters reach base before a game-ending fielder's choice. Chris Anninos was 2-for-4 and Carlos Del Rosario had two RBI to lead St. John's (42-16). Red Storm started Matt Tosoni (6-2) allowed just two runs in 5.1 innings. Austin Wood (7-3) allowed three runs in 8.2 innings to lead Texas (39-21).

The Red Storm took the early lead in the bottom of the third inning. Tom La Stella drew a five-pitch walk with one out and Gino Matias advanced La Stella with a sacrifice bunt. Jeff Grantham then lined an RBI double into left center field to give St. John's a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth Bran Kemp and Anninos led off with consecutive singles. Greg Hopkins attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but fouled two off and eventually grounded into a double play as St. John's would not score.

Tosoni, meanwhile, set down the first five batters of the game before allowing a two-out single in the second. Following a walk in the third, the lefty retired six in a row and seven of the next eight. The lefty, in fact, allowed just three hits through the first five innings.

In the sixth, however, Texas got on the board. After a lead off single was erased with a caught stealing, the next two batters reached before an RBI double to right field by Brandon Belt. David Hernandez added an RBI single before St. John's went to the bullpen. Righty Jared Yecker entered and ended the inning with a strikeout and a fly out.

Yecker retired the first four Longhorns he faced before Jordan Danks doubled in the seventh. Kyle Russell followed with a two-run home run to right field as Texas went up 4-1.

Paul Karmas singled with one out in the seventh, but was erased in an inning-ending double play. La Stella led off the eighth with a single up the middle, but another double play would keep St. John's off the board.

After retiring the first two in the ninth, Yecker was lifted and Luis Monell struck out Danks looking to set down the Longhorns.

Wood returned to the hill for Texas in the ninth having thrown 104 pitches and retired the first two batters before Anninos singled through the left side. Hopkins followed with a single through the left side on the first pitch of the at-bat from Wood and Morris was plunked to load the bases. Del Rosario then doubled just inside the right field line to plate two runs and bring St. John's to within 4-3. Texas then brought in Chance Ruffin and intentionally walked La Stella to load the bases. After taking two balls, Matias fouled a pitch off before grounding into a fielder's choice to end the game.

St. John's set a new school record with 42 wins in 2008 and compiled the program's best winning percentage (.724) since 1984. The Red Storm won its second straight BIG EAST regular season title and earned its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.