St. John's University Athletics
Red Storm Advance to Semifinals of ECU Classic
2/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
In the final game of pool play, the Red Storm managed just two runs on two hits in the extra-inning loss. Kelly Houghton (Millsboro, DE/Briarcliffe JC) launched a two-out solo homerun into center field for the Red Storms first run of the game in the second inning. Courtney Fitzgerald (Bellerose, NY/The Mary Louis Academy) was outstanding through four innings, giving up just one hit while striking out six.
The Golden Griffins eventually broke through in the top of the fifth. Jill Iacono singled to left and was pinch run for by Beth Miller. Miller was then sacrificed to second, advanced to third on a fly ball to center, and scored on an error by catcher Lisa Tropea (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside).
The two teams remained tied, forcing the game into extra innings. Canisius scored once in the eighth, but the Red Storm responded in their half of the inning. With Marilyn Brown (Bronx, NY/John F. Kennedy) on second (following international rules), Courtney Nilan (Valley Stream, NY/Kellenberg) pinch hit for Jessica Dima (Staten Island, NY/Port Richmond) and sacrificed Brown to third. Alesha Argeras (Warren, OH/Matthews) reached on an error and was pinch run for by Cecilia Baston (Falmouth, ME/Falmouth). Tropea then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Brown to tie the game at two.
The Golden Griffins responded stronger in the ninth, scoring three runs on two hits to put them ahead, 5-2. The Red Storm were unable to put together a rally in the bottom of the ninth, falling to Canisius.
Despite the loss, St. Johns was able to clinch the #2 seed in round robin play, and put them against #3 seed, Temple.
The Red Storm attacked early. Lauren Fisher (East Rockaway, NY/East Rockaway) led off the bottom of the second with a single through the right side and advanced on a wild pitch. Fisher scored on a RBI single by Argeras to put the Red Storm ahead, 1-0.
St. Johns added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on doubles by Ann Raab (Freehold, NJ/Allentown) and Argeras to give the Red Storm a 3-0 lead.
Gina Calabrese (Long Beach, NY/Long Beach) allowed just two base runners in the first four innings on an error and a walk before the Owls mounted a small rally. Calabrese gave up a leadoff double, walked the next runner and then the third batter reached on an error. With bases loaded and no out, Katie Weigle hit into a fielders choice, with Calabrese getting the out at home. She then got Kendra Navarro to fly to left for the second out of the inning. Temples only run came on a passed ball, allowing Chrissy Harris to score before Jeannine Giammarino (Staten Island, NY/Port Richmond) picked up a bunt and threw the ball to Raab, who was covering home, to tag out Crystal Taylor at the plate to kill the rally.
The Red Storm got the run back in the top of the fifth when Baston reached on an error, was sacrificed to second and eventually came around to score when Tiffany Howerton (Escondido, CA/Escondido) reached on a throwing error by the shortstop.
Calabrese earned her fourth win of the season, improving her record to 4-3. She is currently five wins shy of the all-time win record at St. Johns.
NOTE: The Red Storm was scheduled to face UNC-Greensboro in the semi-finals of the ECU Pirate Classic. However, the game was called in the bottom of the first with the Red Storm leading 2-0 due to rain.
