St. John's defeats Fairfield, 11-7

Four St. John's players registered multi-RBI games as the Red Storm defeated Fairfield University 11-7, to win its 14th-staight home opener.

The Johnnies used a pair of four run innings to rally against a Stags' team that grabbed the lead twice in the game.

Senior Alex Caruso and sophomore Jesse Berardi each finished 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead St. John's (7-7-1).

Junior Gui Gingras was 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, and freshman Mark Venice was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Freshman lefty Turner French (1-0) had two strikeouts in 1.2 innings of scoreless relief for the win.

Fairfield (4-8) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but St. John's answered with four two-out runs in the second. Sophomore John Valente led off the inning with a bunt single before sophomore Jamie Galazin lined a one-out single into center field. After Venice put the Red Storm on the board with a two-out RBI single, Berardi tied the game with a two-run triple to the wall in left center.

Caruso then made it a 4-3 ballgame with an RBI bunt single.

The Red Storm used the long ball to extend its lead to 5-3 in the third as Gingras led off the inning with a solo blast into the visitor's bullpen in right field.

Trailing by a run in the fifth, the Stags made a comeback. With one out, two Fairfield Stags drew walks, giving sophomore Drew Arciuolo a RBI opportunity, and he came through with a run scoring single. Freshman Tom Ryan brought both runners home with a two out double to give the Stags a 7-5 lead.

The Red Storm took back the lead in their spot of the frame. Berardi tied the game with a single and last year's Big East tournament Most Outstanding Player, Caruso singled home the two deciding runs of the game.

St. John's returns to action this Friday, opening a three-game series at Nevada (5-11) with a 7 p.m. (ET) game.