St. John's University Athletics
Red Storm Softball Drops Two Games to Villanova
3/31/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Freshman Megan Oliver (Endicott, N.Y.) led off the fourth inning with the Red Storms first hit of the day, a single up the middle. After senior Jessica Shepherd (Akron, Ohio) sacrificed Oliver to second, senior Alesha Argeras (Warren, Ohio) added a hit to put runners on the corners. Sophomore Allina Sainz (San Diego, Calif.) blasted a three-run homerun over the leftfield wall to give St. Johns the 3-0 advantage.
Over the first five innings, senior Courtney Fitzgerald (Bellerose, N.Y.) allowed just four hits. But Villanova scored three runs of its own in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Kari Koller singled with two out, allowing Lisa Krueger, who reached on a fielders choice, to score from second base. With the bases loaded, Sarah Wall blooped a single to right field, driving in pinch runner Kristin Leese and Allison Wisniewski and tying the game at 3-all.
The Red Storm would threaten with a lead off hit in each of the extra innings, including two by Oliver, but were unable to capitalize. In the ninth inning, freshman Jo Sherlock (San Diego, Calif.) singled to centerfield and advanced to second on a sacrifice hit by Shepherd. The next two batters were retired. Oliver hit a shot up the middle to get the 10th inning started and moved to second on a wild pitch by the Villanova pitcher, Theresa Hornick. Hornick struck out the next two and ended the inning with a ground out.
Krueger got the Wildcats started in the bottom of the 10th with a hit to right field, but was retired at second base on a fielders choice by Ricci Lugo. Koller put runners on first and second for Villanova with a single to left field. Shepherd recorded the second out of the inning with a diving catch in short left field. In her first at-bat of the season, Jessie Olownia notched a game-winning RBI single, driving Lugo home from second.
Fitzgerald (12-8) pitched all 10 innings for the Red Storm, allowing four earned runs on 12 hits while striking out six and walking one.
In game two, sophomore Jillian Sandoval (Orange, Calif.) got the Red Storm offense started with a blast over the left field wall in the top of the second inning for her first career homerun.
Villanova knotted the game at one in the third inning. With one out, Sara Carlson walked and advanced to second on a passed ball. Lugo singled to right field moving Carlson to third. On a wild pitch, Carlson scored from third base to tie the game.
Fitzgerald relieved sophomore Meghan Allman (San Diego, Calif.) after 2 1/3 innings. Allman allowed one unearned run on three hits, while walking three and striking out one.
In the bottom of the sixth with two outs, the Wildcats took a 2-1 lead when Sara Wall, who reached on a fielders choice, scored on a throwing error by Fitzgerald. Carlson then reached on an error, scoring two more runs for Villanova. A two-run triple by Lugo to centerfield concluded the Wildcats five run, three hit inning.
Fitzgerald (12-9) took the loss for the Red Storm, allowing just one earned run on four hits. She walked two and struck out three.
The Red Storm return to action on Wednesday, April 2 when they travel to New Haven, Conn. for a doubleheader at Yale. First pitch is slated for 2:00 pm.
