St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
vs. Jacksonville St (Winthrop/Ringor Invitational)
Red Storm Fall to Jacksonville State, 3-2
3/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ROCK HILL, S.C. - A seventh inning double by Daniella Pappano led Jacksonville State to a 3-2 victory over the St. John's softball team this afternoon in pool play of the 2004 Winthrop/Ringor Invitational. The Red Storm fall to 8-11 on the season and 1-1 in pool play, while the Gamecocks improve to 14-3 overall and 2-0 in pool play.
After a scoreless first inning, the Red Storm got on the board first in the top of the second on a solo home run by sophomore Jo Sherlock (San Diego, Calif.). With two outs, Sherlock drove the ball over the centerfield fence for her third home run of the season, giving St. John's the early 1-0 lead.
St. John's added another run in the top of the third inning to increase their lead to 2-0. Sophomore Megan Oliver (Endicott, N.Y.) led off the inning with a single to left field and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Tami Hill (San Diego, Calif.). Junior Jillian Sandoval (San Diego, Calif.) followed with a RBI single through the left side to score Oliver from second.
St. John's starter, senior Courtney Fitzgerald (Bellerose, N.Y.), held the Gamecock batters in check through the first five innings. Fitzgerald did not allow a run on three hits and two walks, while striking out eight.
Freshman Brittany Crouch (Irvine, Calif.) replaced Fitzgerald to begin the bottom of the sixth, but failed to hold on to the lead as she allowed a two-run home run to Rachel Countryman, tying the game at two after six innings.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Red Storm threatened but failed to get a run across as they left the bases loaded. With one out, sophomore Leigh Carlson (Howland, Ohio) walked and classmate Blair Belloni (Newport, Ore.) followed with a bunt single, advancing Carlson all the way to third. After Belloni stole second, sophomore Jessica Marical (Stanton, Calif.) walked to load the bases with only one out. However, Oliver and Hill grounded into force outs to end the scoring opportunity.
Jacksonville State made the Red Storm pay for the runners left on base as they scored in the bottom of the seventh to take the game 3-2. With two outs and Melinda McDonald at first, Daniella Pappano lined a double into the left centerfield gap, scoring McDonald.
The Red Storm return to the diamond tomorrow for the second day of the 2004 Ringor Invitational. St. John's takes on Western Illinois at 2 p.m. and follows with a match-up against Charleston Southern at 6 p.m.
