April 17, 2005

Game 1 Box Score (Villanova 5, St. John's 3)
Game 2 Box Score (Villanova 2, St. John's 1)

Villanova, PA - The St. John's University softball team dropped a BIG EAST doubleheader this afternoon at Villanova, falling in game one, 5-3, before losing in extra innings in the finale, 2-1 in eight innings. The Red Storm fall to 17-24-1 overall and 4-6 in the league, while the Wildcats improve to 29-19 overall and 4-6 in the conference.

In the top of the first inning of game one, the Red Storm threatened but left runners at second and third with only one out, as Villanova starter Shannon Williams struck out the final two.

The Wildcats would take the early 4-0 lead with two runs in both the first and the second innings. Kari Koller began the scoring with a two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Sheri Donley began the next inning with a solo homer down the left field line and Villanova would later score on a double steal attempt with two down.

Villanova scored a run in the third straight inning, putting up a single run in the third on a RBI single by Donley.

St. John's wasted another scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth inning as they loaded the bases with no outs. However, Williams would again escape without a run, as she retired the next three batters on a strikeout, pop out and ground out.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Red Storm finally got on the board as they scored two runs and cut the deficit to 5-2. After a single by junior Megan Oliver (Endicott, NY) and a walk to freshman Danielle Estrada (Moreno Valley, CA), sophomore Tami Hill (San Diego, CA) singled over the left fielders head, scoring Oliver. On the play, Estrada moved up to third and Hill to second, allowing senior Allina Sainz (San Diego, CA), two batters later, to send home Estrada on a sacrifice fly to right field.

St. John's added a single run in the top of the sixth inning to shorten the Wildcat lead to 5-3. Sophomore Christina Tucker (San Diego, CA) led off the inning with a walk and was pinch run for by junior Blair Belloni (Newport, OR). Junior Leigh Carlson (Howland, OH) grounded a hard ball to shortstop that went threw her legs, allowing Belloni to go to third and Carlson to second with no outs. St. John's would plate Belloni on an RBI groundout by Oliver, but Williams again escaped further trouble.

Williams again worked her magic with runners in scoring position, as she left the bases loaded to end the game. For the game, the Red Storm left 11 runners on base, including eight in scoring position.

Senior Meghan Allman (San Diego, CA) pitched well in relief for St. John's, allowing only one run on four hits and a walk in 4.2 innings, while striking out three.

In the top of the third inning of game two, the Red Storm continued to leave runners in scoring position, as they left runners on second and third with only one out. Junior Jessica Marical (Stanton, CA) led off with a single to right field and Oliver followed with by reaching on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Estrada moved both runners up a base, but the pair would be left there as Wildcat starter Kristen Haynes retired the final two batters.

Allman, who started game two, escaped major trouble in the bottom of the third inning. A leadoff single and two walks loaded the bases with two outs, but Allman struck out Allie Wisniewski swinging to end the rally.

The Red Storm broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning to take a 1-0 lead. Estrada ended the St. John's drought with runners in scoring position, as she singled through the middle to score Belloni, who pinch ran for Carlson, who led off the inning with a single to left field.

Villanova broke up Allman's shutout and tied the game at one, as Kari Koller led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run to left field, her second of the afternoon.

The game would remain tied going into extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Wildcats took the win on a wild pitch by Allman for the 2-1 final. A leadoff walk to Cassie Koenig and a double by Koller placed runners at second and third. During the next at bat, pinch runner Lindsay Martin would score as the ball bounced to the backstop.

Allman would pitch well in the loss, allowing the two runs on six hits, while striking out five.

The Red Storm take a break from BIG EAST action, as they travel to Long Island University on Wednesday, April 20 for a doubleheader beginning at 3 pm.