St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
vs. Western Illinois (Winthrop/Ringor Invitational)
Three Home Runs by Hallstrom Sink Red Storm
3/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ROCK HILL, S.C. - Three home runs and six RBI by Cassandra Hallstrom led Western Illinois to a 6-3 win over the St. John's University softball team on the second day of the 2004 Winthrop/Ringor Invitational, hosted by Winthrop University. The Red Storm fall to 8-12 on the season and 1-2 in tournament pool play, while the Westerwinds improve to 8-10 overall and 3-0 in pool play.
Western Illinois jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as Cassandra Hallstrom hit a two-out solo home run to centerfield.
The Red Storm responded in the bottom of the first with two runs of their own, to take the lead 2-1. St. John's began the scoring rally with one out, as freshman Tami Hill (San Diego, Calif.) lined a double down the left field line. Sophomore Jillian Sandoval (Orange, Calif.) followed with a single up the middle, placing runners at second and third as Hill moved up a base and Sandoval moved to second on the throw to the plate. After junior Allina Sainz (San Diego, Calif.) walked to load the bases, freshman Christina Tucker (San Diego, Calif.) dropped a RBI single over the shortstop's head, scoring Hill from third and keeping the bases loaded. Sophomore Jo Sherlock (San Diego, Calif.) topped off the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left field as she drove in Sandoval from third.
After a scoreless second inning, the Westerwinds came back to score three runs in the top of the third to take the lead back at 4-2. With runners on second and third and one out, Hallstrom drilled her second home run of the game to deep center, giving Western Illinois the lead back.
Hallstrom and the Westerwinds struck again in the top of the fifth inning, as Hallstrom hit her third home run of the game, a two-run shot, to widen the Western Illinois lead to 6-2.
St. John's finally got to Western Illinois starter Karen Marie Pena again in the bottom of the sixth, as Tucker laced a solo home run to shorten the deficit to 6-3. With two outs, Tucker lined the ball just over the left field fence for her third home run of the season. Sherlock followed with a double to center, but a long fly ball to center by sophomore Leigh Carlson (Howland, Ohio) was grabbed just in front of the fence to end the inning.
Junior Katie Watson (Avondale, Ariz.) replaced starter Brittany Crouch (Irvine, Calif.) to begin the top of the sixth inning. Watson retired all six batters she faced, keeping the Red Storm in striking distance. However, St. John's could not mount a comeback as they fell 6-3 to the Westerwinds.
Tucker and Hill both collected two hits and scored a run for the Red Storm, as Tucker also added her third home run and two RBI.
The Red Storm complete pool play of the 2004 Winthrop/Ringor Invitational tonight as they take on Charleston Southern, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
