QUEENS – The Red Storm scored three runs in the fourth and three more in the eighth to help secure an 8-6 win over Butler on Friday afternoon. Joe Joe Rodriguez earned his second win on the mound for STJ while Derek Drees tasted defeat for the first time this season (3-1).
 
Drees threw 59 total pitches over three full innings of work. He allowed four hits, resulting in two runs scored. Adrian Vega tossed the next two innings and Benji Downs would record seven outs for the 'Dawgs. The final two outs went to Cole Graverson.
 
St. John's used four arms after Rodriguez left the mound. The right-hander threw 5.2 innings, struck out four and walked three. Further down the line, Chuck Zanzio would eliminate a late Butler comeback charge to record his sixth save of the 2022 season.
 
The Bulldogs scored on a passes ball in the second inning and a St. John's error in the seventh helped Dominic Milano cross home plate. BU made the game 5-3 in the eighth with Travis Holt scoring off a wild pitch.
 
The contest took a turn in the bottom of the eighth with STJ scoring three runs. The first came on a BU throwing error and after an RBI single, the Johnnies would also plate a run off a wild pitch.
 
Holt kept Butler's chances alive in the ninth with a two-out RBI single to right field that scored Milano. After an Aaron Steinhart walk, Ryan O'Halloran would make the game very interesting with a single to left that scored two 'Dawgs and made the game 8-6.
 
The pressure was building for Sanzio with Steinhart on third and O'Halloran stealing second, but the Red Storm would get a strikeout to end the game and clinch their 14th win of the season on their home diamond.
 
Holt was responsible for three of Butler's seven hits on the day. His stat line of going 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored led the way for the visitors. James Gargano also had a multi-hit game from the lead-off spot.
 
These two teams will meet again tomorrow with first pitch slated for 1 PM.