JAMAICA, N.Y. - The St. John's University softball team swept a BIG EAST doubleheader from Syracuse this afternoon at Red Storm Field. In game one, the Red Storm came from behind, scoring two runs in both the sixth and the seventh, to take the game, 4-3. St. John's finished the sweep, taking game two, 4-1. The Red Storm improve to 28-24 on the season and 10-8 in BIG EAST play, while the Orangewomen fall to 24-28 overall and 8-10 in league play. Syracuse jumped on the board first in top of the fifth inning in game one, as they scored three runs. The inning began with two singles to left field and the runners were moved up to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. After the innings second out, Tanya Rose was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rachel Park followed by walking on a 3-2 pitch for the game's first run. Cassie Morales took the next pitch down for a two-RBI double, extending the lead to 3-0. St. John's cut into the deficit as they scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman Tami Hill (San Diego, Calif.) and junior Allina Sainz (San Diego, Calif.) singled and were moved to second and third on a ground out. With two outs, junior Jillian Sandoval (Orange, Calif.) laced a two-RBI double to right centerfield to cut the lead to 3-2.
The Red Storm took the game in the bottom of seventh as they scored two runs for the 4-3 win. Sophomore Jessica Marical (Stanton, Calif.) led off the inning with a four-pitch walk and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Brittany Crouch (Irvine, Calif.). Sophomore Megan Oliver (Endicott, N.Y.) and Hill followed with an infield singles, loading the bases. Sophomore Jo Sherlock (San Diego, Calif.) grounded a ball up the middle that went off the Syracuse shortstop's glove allowing Marical and Oliver to score, giving St. John's the 4-3 win.
Senior Courtney Fitzgerald (Bellerose, N.Y.) went the distance for the win, improving to 16-3 on the season. Fitzgerald allowed the three runs on only four hits and two walks, while striking out 10. Hill, Sherlock and freshman Christina Tucker (San Diego, Calif) each recorded two hits for the Red Storm.
St. John's took an early 1-0 lead in game two in the bottom of the third inning. Marical led off the inning with a single to right field that went off the right fielder, allowing Marical to advance to third. The Red Storm were unable to score Marical until Hill lined a RBI single to right center for the 1-0 lead. The Orangewomen evened the score at one in the bottom of the fourth, on a RBI single by Melissa Kelly. However, Fitzgerald held them to only one run as she stranded runners on first and third with one out. The Red Storm retook the lead at 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth as they scored two runs. Sainz led off with a single off the pitcher's glove and advanced to second on a ground out from Tucker. Sandoval followed with a RBI single into centerfield scoring Sainz, moving to second on the play. After an infield groundout that moved Sandoval to third, Marical bounced a ball back to the pitcher, but she threw wildly to first, allowing Marical to reach safely and Sandoval to score. St. John's added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, taking a 4-1 lead after five innings. Oliver led off the inning by reaching on an error by the shortstop and moved over to third as Sherlock singled up the middle. On the play, the throw got past the catcher, allowing Oliver to score. Fitzgerald went the first four innings, picking up her second win on the day and 17th on the season. In her four innings of work, she allowed one run on three hits and one walk, striking out four. Crouch relieved Fitzgerald to begin the fifth inning and went the final three innings for her third save of the season. She retired the first eight batters she faced, until she allowed two infield singles in the seventh. However, she got Tanya Rose to line out back to Crouch to end the game. The Red Storm conclude their regular season schedule as they host Notre Dame in a doubleheader at Red Storm Field, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. After the first game, St. John's is going to honor senior pitcher Courtney Fitzgerald. NOTES: Fitzgerald broke the school record in career innings pitched this afternoon, as she passed Gina Calabrese who held the previous record of 698.2 innings. Also, she tied Calabrese in career starts with 100. As a team, the broke the school's single-season hits and walks record, passing the old marks of 387 and 108, respectively. |
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