St. John's University Athletics
SOFTBALL SPLITS ON DAY TWO OF DIXIE CLASSIC
3/5/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Red Storm knocked Elon pitcher Shannon Courtney around for a season-high 13 hits on the day but managed to squeeze across just two runs. That would be enough however as sophomore Courtney Fitzgerald pitched a gem. Fitzgerald pitched a four-hit shutout against Elon, as she walked three batters and struck out two. Junior Kelly Houghton got the Red Storm on the board as she led off the top of the fourth with a solo homerun. St. Johns would then add an insurance run in the sixth. Danielle Sweeney led off the inning with a single. Then, freshman Jessica Dima sacrificed Sweeney to second before Lisa Tropea doubled to left, but the Phoenix held Sweeney at third. Jessica Shepherd knocked Sweeney in with a clutch two-out single, putting the Red Storm up 2-0. Elon had one last chance in the bottom of the seventh when Teresa Schmitz led off the inning with a single. After retiring the next two batters, Fitzgerald gave up a base hit to Emily Hall. With two on and two out, Fitzgerald got Alyssa Martin to hit a come-backer right back to her to seal her first shutout of the season, the third overall by Red Storm pitching. Fitzgerald is now 3-5 on the season.
In the second matchup against UNC Greensboro, senior Gina Calabrese surrendered two runs in the top of the first inning which would prove to be the difference in the game. Though she went the distance and allowed just three hits with four strikeouts, the Red Storm managed just three hits themselves, two by Tiffany Howerton. In fact, Howerton started the rally which produced the Red Storms only run of the afternoon in the bottom of the fourth when she led off the inning with a double. Lauren Fisher, hitting in the cleanup spot, advanced Howerton to third on a sacrifice to the first baseman. Ann Rabb then drove in Howerton with a sacrifice fly to center, cutting the Spartan lead to 2-1. In the top half of the seventh, the Red Storm got the tying run aboard in Danielle Sweeney who singled with two outs. Sweeney advanced into scoring position after a wild pitch by Jesse Norris, but was stranded as Dima grounded to second for the final out of the game. Calabrese now posts a 5-5 record. Five of the Red Storms 10 losses have been decided by two runs or less.
The Red Storm are now 8-10 on the season and will travel to Atlanta, Ga. this weekend for the Georgia State Spring Classic from March 9-11.
