Baltz’s second 2-run HR, in eighth, lifts St. John’s to 6-5 victory at Virginia

Baltz’s 2 HRs lift St. John’s past Virginia, 6-5

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Jeremy Baltz hit a pair of two-run homers, the second a go-ahead shot in the bottom of the eighth inning, and St. John’s beat Virginia 6-5 in the Charlottesville Regional on Sunday night to force a decisive game.

The teams will play again Monday night, with the winner advancing to the super regionals.

The Red Storm (43-19), who beat Mississippi 20-16 in a wild game earlier, got all their scoring on three two-run homers in the late game. Greg Hopkins also hit one in the second.

Virginia (49-12), trying to advance and host a super regional, did all its scoring in the fourth inning, then managed almost nothing against lefty reliever Kevin Kilpatrick (2-1). He worked the last 5 1-3 innings and allowed just three hits.