By Dylan Butler
The Johnnies will bring a 16-4 record with them into their home-opening conference series against Seton Hall this weekend. “That's not bad,” Blankmeyer said of the team's gaudy record. “We've shown flashes we can be good. If we can maintain our consistency, we'll be very good. If not, it's going to be a battle every weekend.”The pitching staff has been outstanding through the first 19 games of the season, compiling a team earned run average of 3.28, best in the Big East. Scott Barnes, a junior left-hander who is a lock to be drafted this June, is the team's ace. He has a 2-1 record with a 5.26 ERA, but has struggled finding the plate and has a team-high 20 walks.”He hasn't been getting hit,” Blankmeyer said of Barnes. “He's slowly improving and there's some hype on the kid, but his problem is walking guys.”George Brown, a senior righty, is 4-0 in five starts with a 2.32 ERA and has been named Big East pitcher of the week two straight weeks. “He just throws strikes,” Blankmeyer said of Brown. And then there's Matt Tosoni, who is 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA in four starts, including a complete-game shutout against Winthrop last month.”He's added to his repertoire, throwing from different arm slots, which gives him a different look,” Blankmeyer said. Out of the bullpen, Colin Lynch has picked up where he left off last year and is one of the best closers in the Big East. He already has four saves, which is tied with Gabriel Shaw of Louisville.The lineup is stacked and solid as evidence of the team .316 batting average, second in the conference. Seven players already have double-digit RBIs and eight are batting better than .300. In the middle of the lineup are a pair of freshmen – former St. Francis Prep star Paul Karmas (.361, 13 RBIs), who is splitting time between DH and first base and Greg Hopkins (.353, 13 RBIs), the starting shortstop. Blankmeyer used the same starting lineup for all three games at Rutgers, which, he said, is a key.”We manufacture runs,” said Blankmeyer, who earlier this season reached the 400-win plateau for his career. “We stress getting on base and we have some guys who can handle the bat pretty good.”Seton Hall (10-10, 4-2) comes to Kaiser Stadium this weekend for a three-game set after sweeping Villanova in South Orange, N.J., last weekend, shutting out the Wildcats twice. Like the Red Storm, the Pirates have solid starting pitching, led by Corey Young (3-1, 3.45 ERA), Sean Black (1-1, 2.39 ERA) and Greg Miller (2-1, 2.25 ERA), who is also third on Seton Hall in hitting with a .292 batting average.Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at news@TimesLedger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
