St. John's University Athletics
Villanova Sweeps Red Storm, 3-0 and 2-1
4/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
In game one, Villanova used a three-run sixth inning for the win. Ricci Lugo led off the inning with an infield single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Lisa Krueger reached on a Red Storm error and Lugo advanced to third. Sara Carlson hit an infield single to load the bases for the Wildcats. Allison Wisniewski reached on a ground ball to first and Lugo scored on the play at the plate. Heather Garboden singled to left field to drive in Krueger and Karen Niwinski grounded into a fielders choice to give Villanova the 3-0 lead. The Wildcats scored three runs on three hits and one error.
The Red Storm threatened in the bottom of the sixth when freshman Jillian Sandoval (Orange, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. With two outs, freshman Allina Sainz (San Diego, Calif.) walked to put runners on first and second. But, the Red Storm rally would end there. In the seventh, junior Jessica Shepherd (Akron, Ohio) led off with a double down the left field line, but was stranded there as Shannon Williams retired the next three batters for her third save of the season.
The Wildcats received a strong pitching performance by Theresa Hornick who pitched 5.1 shutout innings, giving up just two hits, while striking out seven. Freshman Meghan Allman (San Diego, Calif.) was solid for the Red Storm allowing three runs, only one earned, in seven innings, striking out nine.
In game two, senior Cecelia Baston (Falmouth, Maine) reached on a throwing error by the third baseman to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior Alesha Argeras (Warren, Ohio) had a sacrifice bunt and Sandoval followed with a single to left field to move Baston to third. Senior Tiffany Howerton (Escondido, Calif.) singled up the middle to drive in Baston to give the Red Storm the 1-0 lead.
With two out in the bottom of the sixth, Krueger singled to short right field for the Wildcats to drive in Kriste Romano to tie the game at 1. In the top of the eighth, again with two out, Lugo walked and Flier singled to left field to put runners on first and second. Krueger then singled to center field to drive in the eventual game-winning run.
In the bottom of the eighth, with two out, Sainz walked to get the Red Storm started. Senior Kelly Houghton (Millsboro, Del.) followed with a single to left field. Sainz and Houghton would each advance a base on an illegal pitch by the Villanova pitcher, placing runners on second and third. But, the Red Storm would come up short. Villanova took the game, 2-1.
Hornick (19-6) earned the win for the Wildcats, giving up seven hits and no runs over 5.2 innings. Allman (19-24) took the loss for the Red Storm, allowing two earned runs on six hits in eight innings pitched.
The Red Storm return to action on Wednesday, April 24 at 3pm when they travel to Long Island University to take on the Blackbirds.
