St. John's University Athletics
SOFTBALL SWEEPS PROVIDENCE
4/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
In game one, the Friars took the early 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly to left by pitcher Cori Van Dusen. Only able to muster three base runners in the first six innings, the Red Storm finally put together a run-scoring rally in the bottom of the seventh. Catcher Lisa Tropea led off the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second by Ann Raab. Tiffany Howerton then lined a rocket to left field which scooted under the leftfielder's legs, allowing Tropea to come around to score the tying run. Howerton was stranded at second however, and the two teams went into extra innings.
Senior Gina Calabrese, pitching in her second straight extra-inning game, retired the Friars in order for three of the next four innings, allowing just one basehit in the top of the 11th, but the Red Storm were unable to give their ace any run support. In the bottom of the tenth, Kelly Houghton scorched a one-out triple to left. The next batter up, Lauren Fisher, skied a fly ball to right field, which was handled by the rightfielder who fired to the plate to try and nail Houghton who was tagging up at third. The throw was right on target from Jamie Ferreira as Houghton was tagged out at home to send the game into the 11th.
The Red Storm pulled out their third extra-inning victory of the season as freshman Jessica Dima lined a one-out double to left-center. Leadoff hitter Alesha Argeras then stroked a 2-0 pitch up the middle to plate Dima for the 2-1 victory.
Calabrese picked up her ninth victory of the season with a tremendous effort on the mound. She allowed one run, unearned, on just four hits while striking out four and walking two.In the nightcap, sophomore Courtney Fitzgerald pitched a brilliant two-hit shuout for her 10th victory of the year. It was her third shutout this season, and her first since March 9 against College of Charleston. Fitzgerald, who is now 10-10 on the season, gave up the two hits in the second inning, but neither baserunner advanced past first base. She also recorded six strikeouts in the win.
The Red Storm jumped out to the early lead as Dima drove in just her second run of the season on an RBI-double down the left field line, scoring Marilyn Brown. Then in the fifth, Raab drove in Argeras with a single to center.
St. John's will conclude their eight-game homestand tomorrow afternoon when they host Albany at 2:30 in a non-conference doubleheader at Mitchel Field.
