QUEENS, NY – St. John’s used a ninth-inning rally to come from behind in a 5-4 win over the Iona College baseball team in non-conference action at Kaiser Stadium.
Iona led 3-1 after three innings scoring a run in each frame. An infield single by junior C Carmine Palummo drove in senior LF Jimmy Guiliano with two-out in the first inning. With the score tied 1-1 in the second, sophomore 2B Tyler Bruno singled up the middle to score freshman CF Jon Budesa. Budesa picked up an RBI in the third inning with a base hit to score Palummo from second base.
The Red Storm knotted the score at 3-3 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
In the seventh, Guiliano scored the go ahead run. With one out he was hit by a pitch. He raced around to third base on a wild pitch and scored on another.
St. John’s rallied in their final at bat to walk off with the win. Back-to-back singles put runners on second and third after a Gael error. SS Jarred Maderos evened the contest at 4-4 and advanced C Troy Dixon to third. After an intentional walk to 1B Matt Harris, DH Anthony Bracato flew out to senior LF Steve Basile scoring Dixon and ending the game.
Palummo went 2-for-4 with the run scored and RBI. Budesa, Bruno and Guiliano each recorded hits with Guiliano scoring twice in the loss.
Six Gael pitchers saw action in the contest. Junior RHP Max Bruckner tossed the first four allowing three runs on eight hits. Junior LHP John Nargoski, freshman RHP Jared Finkel and sophomore LHP Andrew Camiolo combined for 2.1 innings of no hit ball, allowing three base runners via two walks and a hit by pitch. Sophomore RHP Vinny Martin allowed a hit and a walk and two outs to end the seventh and one more to begin the eighth. Junior RHP John Daddino took the loss appearing in the decisive ninth inning.
St. John’s had four performers with two hits. Brocato drove in two runs to lead the home team. Thomas Hackimer earned the win, facing three batters in the top of the ninth inning.
The Gaels continue non-conference play Friday and Saturday during its MAAC bye weekend. Iona hosts Central Connecticut at City Park Friday at 2:00 pm, before traveling to New Britain to take on the Blue Devils in a doubleheader Saturday at 1:00 pm.
