St. John's University Athletics
SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH RUTGERS
4/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
In the first game, sophomore Courtney Fitzgerald pitched her sixth shutout of the season while scattering six hits and recording six strikeouts. The Scarlet Knights stranded 11 runners in the game as Fitzgerald was able to pitch out of several jams. The Red Storm took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI-single by Alesha Argeras. Then in the top of the fifth, the first three batters all reach safely as Kelly Houghton and Ann Raab laced back-to-back singles to the opposite field, then Lauren Fisher was hit by starter Leah Black. Marilyn Brown struck out for the first out of the inning, but Jessica Shepherd followed with a sharp grounder up the middle which hit off Black's glove towards second base. The second baseman fired to first in time to get Shepherd, but not before Houghton came in to score the second run of the game.
In the next two innings, the Scarlet Knights had six baserunners but none came around to score thanks to some solid defense and clutch pitching. With two on and one out in the sixth, Fitzgerald fanned Jennifer Carlo and pinch hitter Stacy Ryker to retire the side. Then in the seventh, the Scarlet Knight loaded the bases with one out on a basehit and a pair of walks. Cleanup hitter Megan Antonucci stepped up and lined a hot shot to third base, which was bobbled a bit by Shepherd, but she recovered nicely and fired to the plate to get Brittney Neer for the second out of the inning. With the bases still loaded, Fitzgerald got the next batter, Danielle Minkel, to pop up to Tiffany Howerton at short, and the Red Storm hung on for the victory. Fitzgerald is now 15-11 on the season and 3-3 in the BIG EAST.
In the second game, the Scarlet Knights took control early as Antonucci blasted a two-run homer over the left field fence off starter Gina Calabrese and would not relinquish the lead. The Red Storm got one back in the top of the fourth when Howerton lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center field to plate Argeras. That would be all the support the Red Storm hitters would give Calabrese as Scarlet Knight starter Andria Koehler pitched a two-hitter for her sixth win of the season. Calabrese falls to 12-11 on the season and 2-3 in the BIG EAST.
The Red Storm will travel to Philadelphia, Pa. tomorrow afternoon for a BIG EAST doubleheader against Villanova. Gametime is set for noon.
