The St. John’s men’s baseball team swept Holy Cross in a double-header on Sunday, as Saturday’s game was originally postponed because of snow.
The Red Storm (6-11) won the first game 8-3 and the second 12-8 over the Crusaders (2-13) at Jack Kaiser Stadium.
The snow delay came with St. John’s trailing Holy Cross 3-2 in the top of the fourth inning. James Lomangino started the game for the Red Storm, giving up two earned runs in three innings.
With the game being resumed on Sunday, Lomangino was relieved by Ryan Horstman the following day.
Horstman was dominant in 5.1 innings of relief, striking out six and only allowing one hit. The Johnnies’ offense would continue to control the game in their home ballpark, scattering 14 hits for eight runs carrying over from the game from Saturday.
The offensive performance was impressive all-around for the ballclub as five separate players each had an RBI.
“Our bats are beginning to wake up because after our trip to the south we have been able to see live pitching,” manager Ed Blankmeyer said. “Before we went down there we weren’t able to get to get out on the field because of how cold it had been here and hitting in a batting cage is just not the same as facing live, in-game pitching.”
In game two of Sunday’s twin bill senior Sean Hagan got the start for the Red Storm, giving up six earned runs in four innings.
“I felt as though I left in Hagan too long today, he has been struggling so far this season and he is going to be important to our success this season,”Blankmeyer said.
Freshman Ryan McCormick was called on to relieve Hagan and did the job, limiting the Crusaders to one run over 3.2 innings.
“I felt Horstman did a great job for us in relief today, his command was really on today,” Blankmeyer said. “Once McCormick was able to settle down he was able to really do a good job for us.”
Zach Lauricella continued his hot hitting from game one of the double-header, racking up two more hits and three more RBIs, totaling 5-for-7 the entire day with 6 RBI.
The rest of the team didn’t let up on their production, either, as seven separate men drove at least one run in the second game of the double-header.
The Johnnies will take to the diamond again today on the road against LIU Brookyln.
