May 8, 2008
Game 1 GAMETRACKER
Game 2 GAMETRACKER
Game 3 GAMETRACKER
Live Audio
QUEENS, N.Y. -
After sweeping a doubleheader against Iona, the No. 21/20 St. John's baseball team hosts the University of South Florida in its final home BIG EAST series of the season. The series opens with a 6 p.m. game on Friday, May 9 and continues with a 1 p.m. game on Saturday, May 10. The series concludes at Noon on Sunday, May 11.
Inside The Series
St. John's and USF have met just eight times in a series that began in 2006. The Red Storm holds a 5-3 edge, including a 2-1 edge in home games. The teams last met in the BIG EAST Tournament on May 23, 2007, when the Bulls edged the Red Storm by a 2-0 score. St. John's took of three from the Bulls in Tampa, Fla., during the regular season. St. John's also took two of three from USF in the 2006 regular season and defeated the Bulls, 6-4, in a BIG EAST Tournament matchup.
Stat Of The Week
27-1: St. John's is 27-1 this year when scoring at least six runs in a game.
STORMTRACKER
In The Polls
St. John's is ranked No. 21 in the Baseball America poll, the team's highest ranking in the poll since coming in at No. 14 in May of 1981.
The team is also ranked No. 20 by Collegiate Baseball, No. 24 by Rivals.com and No. 20 by Ping! Baseball.
Red Storm Tidbits
Carlos Del Rosario is riding a career-long 11-game hitting streak and is the fifth player this season to have a hitting streak of at least 10 games.
Jeff Grantham also has a nine-game hitting streak.
Paul Karmas leads the team with 16 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games.
At The Jack
The Red Storm is 17-2 at Jack Kaiser Stadium, including a 7-2 mark in BIG EAST games.
The team bats .330 at home and averages over eight runs per game.
The pitching staff has a 3.07 ERA at home and holds the opponents to just a .231 batting average.
Inside The Trends
St. John's is 17-1 when scoring in the first inning.
St. John's is 28-2 when scoring first.
St. John's is 28-0 when out-hitting the opponent.
St. John's is 25-7 against right-handed starters.
Projected Starters/2008 Statistics
LHP Scott Barnes /5-3, 4.34 ERA, 67 strikeouts, 64.1 innings, .221 opp/avg.
LHP George Brown /9-0, 2.74 ERA, 50 strikeouts, 72.1 innings, .245 opp/avg.
RHP Jared Yecker /3-1, 4.35 ERA, 33 strikeouts, 41.1 innings, .232 opp/avg.
Scouting The University Of South Florida Bulls
USF comes to Queens with a 25-22 record, including a 10-11 BIG EAST mark. The Bulls are also 9-8 in road games.
Ryan Lockwood leads the team with a .411 average and 12 steals. The outfielder is also second on the team with 15 doubles and 36 RBI.
Lockwood enters the series carrying a 28 game hitting streak.
Joey Angelberger leads the team with 17 doubles, 38 RBI and is tied for second with six home runs.
The Bulls have five players with at least 30 RBI and four players with at least six home runs.
Sean Sanford leads the charge out of the bullpen with 11 saves. The closer has a 4.50 ERA and a 5-4 record in a team-high 30 appearances.
Projected Starters/2008 Statistics
RHP Daniel Thomas/2-2, 3.66 ERA, 46 strikeouts, 39.1 innings, .280 opp/avg.
RHP Randy Fontanez/4-3, 3.81 ERA, 45 strikeouts, 59.0 innings, .286 opp/avg.
RHP Derrick Stultz/3-3, 3.33 ERA, 43 strikeouts, 51.1 innings, .260 opp/avg.
