June 3, 2005

Baseball

St. John's - 5 Virginia - 3

Four years ago today, No. 29 St. John's defeated Virginia 5-3 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Goss Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon. Junior Craig Hansen started his first game in two years and notched the win, going seven plus innings and allowing just 3 runs.

"When we got the bid, I said to Craig, 'You may be getting that ball game one,'" head coach Ed Blankmeyer recalled. "He got an inkling, but he's got the closer mentality. After two years as a closer, to pitch and start a game of this magnitude, what he did is just outstanding."

Hansen, the school's all-time saves leader, struck out eight batters and left the game in the top of the 8th after throwing 114 pitches.

"St. John's had a guy on the mound today that will probably be one of the top ten picks in the major league draft," said Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor.

The Johnnies (40-16) advanced to the winners bracket of the Corvallis Regional, eventually losing to host and top seed Oregon State. 

Just a few days later, the Boston Red Sox drafted Hansen in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. As the 26th overall pick, the Glen Cove product would become the first Red Sox player to reach the majors in the same season he was drafted.

SJU-Virginia Boxscore