QUEENS – Due to a conference travel curfew ruling the game between Butler and St. John's on Sunday afternoon ended in a 12-12 tie after nine innings. The two teams pushed the start time up one hour for the series finale, but could not be separated after four hours of BIG EAST action.
Butler scored their 12 runs off 16 hits and the Johnnies tallied 13 hits to pull even in the bottom of the ninth. The game was wild from start to finish with twists and turns coming in all directions. Butler scored seven runs in the top of the first inning, but would trail 9-8 after the fifth. Neither team could provide offense in the sixth or seventh, but the 'Dawgs posted four runs to the scoreboard in the eighth to regain control. In the end, those four runs would not be enough as STJ scored three in the bottom of the ninth to knot the score at 12-12.
James Gargano was great for BU at the top of the order. The fifth-year senior went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI's and a run scored.
Kyle Van Liere,
Billy Wurch and
Dominic Milano also had doubles for the 'Dawgs on Sunday afternoon.
Nick Ortega and
Kollyn All would match Gargano with three RBI on the day. Ortega highlighted the first inning with a ball leaving the park to give BU the 7-0 advantage. His round-tripper down the left field line scored Milano and O'Halloran.
All started the game with a sac fly to center and provided Butler with a two-RBI single in the eighth to regain the BU lead. Gargano chipped in with a two RBI single to left center in the eighth to move the score to 12-9 in favor of Butler. The three-run difference wasn't quite enough as STJ came back with a single, double and ground out to even the score.
Nick Eaton,
John MacCauley,
Aaron Barokas and Taylor Dawson touched the rubber for the Bulldogs. Eaton exited after 56 pitches (2.1 IP) and watched MacCauley toss the next 2.2 innings of action. MacCauley and Barokas saw a majority of the action on Sunday. Barokas struck out eight batters over three full frames.
St. John's went with Joe Mascio, Vincent Bianchi, Ben Adams, and closer Chuck Sanzio. Their combined efforts resulted in just three strikeouts and six walks.
Today's result moves Butler to 18-22-1 overall. The team will return to action on Tuesday with a game against Indiana at Victory Field. First pitch downtown is set for 6:30 PM.
