St. John's University Athletics
SOFTBALL TAKES TWO FROM SACRED HEART
4/3/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Sophomore Courtney Fitzgerald pitched 13 of the 14 innings in the twinbill, picking up a pair of wins. In the first game, she allowed a run in each of the first two innings but settled down for the remaining five innings and kept the Pioneers off the board. Fitzgerald gave up six hits but struck out seven and walked only two.
The Red Storm took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Leadoff batter Lisa Tropea drew a walk to start the game and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Jessica Shepherd. Alesha Argeras lifted a fly ball to right field as Tropea tagged up and went to third. The throw to third went wide of the bag and Tropea broke for home. The pitcher hurried her throw home which sailed wide, allowing Tropea to score.
The Pioneers got one back in their half of the inning on an infield single by shortstop Pam Vuijst, which scored Katie Marien. Then in the bottom of the second with two outs, Marien put the Pioneers up 2-1 with a solo homerun off the left-field foul pole.
The Red Storm batted around in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs on six basehits, which would prove to be the difference. Marilyn Brown, Michele Crokus, Jessica Dima, Tropea and Shepherd all drove in runs in the inning. Fitzgerald and the Red Storm defense did not allow a base runner passed first for the remaining three innings and went on to win 6-2.In the second game, Fitzgerald took the mound as the starter once again and shut down Sacred Heart for five solid innings. Meanwhile the Red Storm jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Argeras and Kelly Houghton each knocked in runs for the Red Storm.
The Pioneers did have their chances, as Fitzgerald worked out of two bases loaded jams. In the bottom of the second, Fitzgerald escaped a bases loaded situation by striking out Marien to end the inning. Then, after loading the bases in the bottom of the third with only one away, designated player Melissa McManaman hit a ground ball to short, which was scooped up by Tiffany Howerton who fired home to nail the runner at the plate for the second out. Two pitches later, Tamara Ricaforte popped up to the second baseman Argeras to retire the side. In all, the Pioneers stranded 11 base runners in the second game alone.
The Red Storm scored the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth when right fielder Cecelia Baston lined a single up the middle to plate Crokus for a 3-0 SJU lead. Trying to preserve the lead and in order to rest a weary Fitzgerald, freshman Kate Cucciniello came in in relief in the bottom of the sixth. The rookie hurler walked the first batter she faced but not before giving up a run-scoring triple to the catcher, Katie Ross. Ross would eventually score on a wild pitch by Cucciniello, but she retired the next three batters on ground balls to keep the score in the Storms favor at 3-2.
After failing to add some insurance in their half of the seventh, head coach Melody Cope turned to Fitzgerald to finish what she started and pitch the seventh. Fitzgerald struck out the first two batters she faced before giving up a two-out single to McManaman. Then pinch-hitter Fortier popped up to Argeras at second for the final out as the Red Storm hung on for the narrow victory.
Fitzgerald picked up her seventh and eighth wins of the season as well as her first save. She is now 8-10 overall.
After playing 35 games on the road to start the season, the Red Storm will host their home opener on Thursday April 5 against Columbia. The non-conference doubleheader is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Mitchel Field in Hempstead, N.Y.
