St. John's fans have been imploring the Red Storm this week to "finish the job." On Sunday afternoon, the Johnnies will get that chance.
The Red Storm baseball team (36-21) is set to face off with South Florida at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida in the Big East championship game at noon. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
2012 marks the third straight Big East championship game for the Johnnies. It will be the Red Storm's 10th time playing in the final, which stands as a conference record. The six-time Big East champion St. John's team, managed by conference Coach of the Year Ed Blankmeyer, is searching for its first title since 2010.
The Johnnies and USF Bulls have met 21 times in total in a series that dates back to 2006 when South Florida joined the Big East after leaving Conference USA. The Red Storm have defeated the Bulls two of the three times the two squads have met in the Big East Tournament.
Matt Carasiti (RHP; 5-5, 3.89 ERA) takes the mound for St. John's in Sunday's final. This will be Carasiti's second start of this tournament. He recorded the victory in the Johnnies' 12-2 win over Notre Dame on Wednesday after pitching six innings and allowing two runs on nine hits.
The Red Storm's lineup for Sunday's championship game is as follows:
1. Kyle Richardson (CF), 2. Pat Talbut (RF), 3. Matt Wessinger (SS), 4. Frank Schwindel (1B), 5. Jeremy Baltz (LF), 6. Sean O'Hare (3B), 7. Zach Lauricella (DH), 8. Danny Bethea (C), 9. Bret Dennis (2B)
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