Sunday, March 05, 2006

 Johnson City, Tenn. (March 5, 2006) - St. John's scored nine runs over the final three innings, rallying from a one-run deficit to defeat ETSU 14-9 in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Cardinal Park.

The Bucs (8-7) led 6-5 entering the seventh inning, but timely hitting and ill-timed fielding miscues led to five Red Storm runs before ETSU recorded an out in the frame.  Catcher Brendan Moanghan started the rally, drawing a leadoff walk from Buc starter Tony Lombardi (Windsor, Calif.).  Shortstop Gino Mattias reached on an error, and after center fielder Will Vogl was hit by a pitch to load the bases, pinch hitter Anthony Smith cleared the bases with a three-RBI triple to center off Buccaneer reliever Joey McCown (Alcoa, Tenn.).  Second baseman Sam DeLuca followed with a monster blast over the left field wall to push the St. John's advantage to 10-6.

The Bucs rallied back to 10-8 with two runs in their half of the seventh, but could not get any closer the rest of the way.  Junior C.J. Lee (Bristol, Va.) led off with his third hit of the day, a double to center, and came home when senior Chuck Hargis (Powell, Tenn.) followed with a double of his own.  Hargis came around to score three batters later on senior Shane Byrne's (Johnson City, Tenn.) RBU single up the middle.

Lee finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored, and Byrne led the Bucs with two RBI.  Vogl hit two solo home runs in the game, and Smith led St. John's with four RBI in just one at-bat.

Lombardi took the loss for the Bucs, falling to 0-4 on the season.  George Brown (1-0) picked up the win for the Red Storm in relief of starter Luis Monnell.

The Bucs are back in action Wednesday, March 8, entertaining Tennessee Tech at Cardinal Park.  First pitch is set for 7 pm.