St. John's University Athletics
LONG ISLAND SWEEPS RED STORM SOFTBALL
4/29/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Blackbirds scored their runs in bunches in the first game, stringing together four runs in the top of the second and four again in the top of the sixth. Six miscues by the defense did not help the Red Storm, who mustered just two hits off Long Island starter Crystal Eubanks. The sophomore, who despite walking six batters in six innings, struck out nine and allowed just two hits. Eubanks, Sayde Marzolf, and Gianna Caruso each drove in a pair of runs in the victory. Gina Calabrese took the loss for the Red Storm, and falls to 12-13 on the season. She gave up six runs (three earned), on eight hits, while walking three and striking out four.
In the second game, senior Michele Crokus started the game for the Red Storm, as Courtney Fitzgerald was sidelined with tendonitis in her wrist. She is probable for tomorrows doubleheader with BIG EAST rival Virginia Tech. Crokus, who pitched for the first time this season, threw 4.2 innings giving up five runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking none. The Blackbirds again jumped out to the early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. LIU would slowly pull away, adding runs in the second, third and fifth to extend their lead to 5-0. In the bottom of the fifth, the Red Storm rallied for two runs to cut the deficit to three. Freshman Jessica Dima led off the inning with a single up the middle. Sophomore Alesha Argeras walked and Jessica Shepherd blooped a basehit into right-center. Junior Lisa Tropea then drew a bases-loaded walk which scored Dima. Junior Kelly Houghton then drove in the second run with a sac fly to right field to score Argeras.
The Blackbirds added another run in the top of the sixth on an RBI-single by Tiffany Cooley to make it 6-2. After a quiet home half of the sixth inning, Houghton stepped up in the bottom of the seventh and belted a two-run homerun to straightaway centerfield to make it 6-4. The homer was Houghtons ninth of the season, as she extended her RBI total to 33, which bumps her up to second-place on the single season RBI list. She is just one shy of tying Tara Felix and Melissa Valencia for the single season record. Crokus took the loss for the Red Storm.
St. Johns returns to action tomorrow afternoon when they host Virginia Tech at noon at Mitchel Field in a key BIG EAST matchup. The Hokies, who are currently in fifth place in the conference standings, dropped a doubleheader to fourth-place Seton Hall earlier today. Virginia Tech is 8-8 in the league while St. Johns is 6-8 and currently in sixth.
