The No. 20 St. John’s Red Storm overwhelmed the Liberty Flames, 12-2, Friday evening at Jack Kaiser Stadium. The contest was Liberty’s first-ever contest in the state of New York.
St. John’s right-hander Sean Mooney held Liberty to three hits and no runs over the first six innings.
Liberty drops to 26-18 overall. St. John’s, which has won 16 out of its last 17 contests, raises its record to 30-11. The contest was the first of a four-game road swing for Liberty. All four contests will be against nationally-ranked non-conference opponents.
St. John’s scored at least one run in each of the first five innings, racing out to a 12-0 advantage.
The Red Storm took a 2-0 lead in the first. Third baseman John Valente opened the home half of the opening inning with a single. Two batters later, second baseman Josh Shaw drew a base on balls and designated hitter Robert Boselli III was hit by a pitch, filling the bases. First baseman Luke Stampfl followed by lining a two-run single into left field for an early two-run edge.
St. John’s extended its advantage with four runs in the second. The Red Storm loaded the bases with one out and plated two runs on a single by Shaw. Boselli III followed with a double into the left-center field gap to bring home two more for a 6-0 lead.
The host Red Storm tacked on two more in the third for a commanding eight-run cushion. Right fielder Anthony Brocato lined his eighth home run of the season over the left field wall for the first run of the inning. Center fielder Jamie Galazin, the brother of Liberty third baseman Tyler, later singled in another run for an 8-0 advantage.
A three-run home run by St. John’s left fielder Mike Antico in the fourth and a single run in the fifth upped the Red Storm lead to 12-0.
The Flames pushed across two runs in the top of the ninth, ruining St. John’s bid for their sixth shutout of the year. Liberty loaded the bases with one out and scored its first run of the game when center fielder D.J. Artis was hit by a pitch by Red Storm reliever Chris Henry. Catcher Tre Todd then drew a walk to force in another run for the 12-2 final ledger. The Flames have not been shut out this season.
Liberty starting pitcher Garret Price falls to 6-3 on the year. Price gave up eight runs on 11 hits over 2 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked two.
St. John’s Mooney runs his record to 9-2. The 2017 BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year struck out five and walked one.
Liberty had four hits in the game. St. John’s collected 16 and committed the contest’s only error.
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