St. John's University Athletics
Red Storm Sweep Iona
4/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Red Storm opened game one with a four run first inning. Senior Alesha Argeras (Warren, Ohio) started the game with a single and scored on a single up the middle by junior Jessica Shepherd (Akron, Ohio). Senior Tiffany Howerton (Escondido, Calif.) singled to left sending Shepherd home and moving freshman Jillian Sandoval (Orange, Calif.), who reached on a fielders choice, to second. With the bases loaded, senior Kelly Houghton (Millsboro, Del.) reached on an error by the Iona shortstop and two runners scored. SJU scored four runs on three hits and two Iona errors in the bottom of the first.
The Red Storm added three runs to their 6-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth to end the game. Houghton got the inning started with a triple to center field. An error by the Iona shortstop allowed senior Cecelia Baston (Falmouth, Maine) to reach first and sent Houghton across the plate. Argeras doubled, driving senior Marilyn Brown (Bronx, N.Y.), who had walked, and Baston in to end the game. In five innings the Red Storm scored nine runs on 10 hits and four Iona errors.
Freshman Meghan Allman (San Diego, Calif.) pitched her eighth shutout of the season, a new school record. In five innings, she allowed four hits and one walk while striking out nine. Allman has recorded 186 strikeouts this year, setting a new school record for strikeouts in a season. The previous record was 183 set by Gina Calabrese in 2000.
The Red Storm would cut the second game short too, scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game. Leading 4-1 after 5.5 innings, SJU notched six runs on five hits to take the game 10-1. With one out and two on, freshman Allina Sainz (San Diego, Calif.) doubled to left field sending pinch runner senior Chrissy Wellington (Lee, Mass.) home and Howerton, who reached on a bunt single to third. Senior Ann Raab (Freehold, N.J.) sent a ball over the left field fence for a three-run home run. With her first home run of the year, Raab became the first St. Johns player besides Howerton to hit one out of Red Storm Field. However, it would be Argeras who would once again end the game for the Red Storm. With Houghton on third and Brown on second, Argeras singled right field, driving in both runners to give SJU the 10-1 advantage.
Argeras was 6-8 on the day with four RBI and a run scored. Raab finished 3-4 with three RBI and a run scored.
Junior Jessica Cameron (Girard, Ohio) earned her first collegiate victory, giving up one earned run on three hits while walking four and striking out three. For the Gaels, Amy Burdette threw 5.2 innings allowing 10 runs, nine earned, on 13 hits with five walks and four strikeouts.
The Red Storm return to action this weekend at Providence on Saturday and at Boston College on Sunday. Both BIG EAST doubleheaders are slated for noon.
