The St. John's baseball program's season came to an end Sunday afternoon as the Red Storm lost 6-4 to the East Carolina Pirates in a NCAA Baseball Tournament contest at Davenport Field in Charlottesville, VA. The Red Storm finishes their season with a 36-22 overall record, while ECU advance to play the tourney's overall top-seeded squad, the Virginia Cavaliers, who defeated St. John's, 10-2, Saturday, in the regional finals.
The Pirates used a two-run, third-inning home run from third basemen Corey Thompson, who went 3-for-4, to take an early 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, the Red Storm cut the deficit to 3-2, but ECU added a run in the fifth and sixth to increase its advantage to 5-2. From there, ECU used a solid five innings of work from winning pitcher Brad Mincey, who replaced starting pitcher Kevin Brandt after four innings, to hold onto the lead. Mincey pitched five innings, allowed just an earned run on two hits, while striking out three. First basemen John Wooten finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
St. John's starting pitcher Brendan Lobban tossed just three innings and allowed three earned runs on two hits. Losing pitcher Eddie Medina replaced Lobban in the top of the fourth inning and pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits. Matt Carsiti tossed the last 2 2/3 innings. Second basemen Matt Wessinger went 2-for-4 with two runs.