QUEENS, NY – The 20th ranked St. John's baseball team was able to protect home field with a 9-1 win against Iona College this evening at Jack Kaiser Field.

The Red Storm (29-11) were able to jump out to a 4-0 lead after two innings starting with John Valente scoring for the hosts in the bottom of the first without a hit being recorded. The New Rochelle native led off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and touched home after two ground outs.

In the second inning, Valente picked up a RBI hit to increase the margin to 2-0. Joe DeMaio was able to keep the score at 2-0 as he threw out Jordan Gillerman trying to score from second on the play. However, Jamie Galazin picked up the two baserunners with a two-run single to center field.

Following three scoreless innings, the Maroon & Gold (12-29) were able to get on the board in the top of the sixth. Joe DeMaio led off with a single and advanced to third on a double from Brian Picone. With no outs, Tyler Bruno drove in DeMaio with the team's opening run on a RBI groundout.

St. John's answered the run score by Iona in the top of the sixth with five runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning. Brandon Miller tallied two of the RBI in the inning with a single to right field.

The combination of Patrick Ryan, Dan McBryan and Jason Goetz held the Red Storm hitless for the final two innings that included McBryan striking out two to open the bottom of the eighth.

Looking ahead, the Gaels return to Connecticut for the second straight weekend on Saturday for a three-game MAAC series at Fairfield.