St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Central Florida
St. John's Split Doubleheader with Central Florida
3/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 3, 2004
ORLANDO, FLA. The St. John's University softball team split a doubleheader this afternoon to Central Florida in games held at the UCF Softball Complex in Orlando, Fla. Both games saw strong pitching performances as St. John's shutout Central Florida 2-0 in the opener, but fell 9-1 in five innings in the second game. In game one, St. John's, behind strong pitching by senior Courtney Fitzgerald (Bellerose, N.Y.) and freshman Brittany Crouch (Irvine, Calif.), shutout the Golden Knights 2-0. Fitzgerald went the first three innings, allowing only two hits, while Crouch pitched the last four, allowing only three hits. Neither pitcher allowed a walk, and combined for four strikeouts. In the second game, the Red Storm were held to only one hit and committed three errors, while getting beat 9-1 in five innings.
The two teams held each other scoreless over the first three innings of game one, as both teams stranded runners in scoring position. However, the Red Storm broke through for two runs in the top of the fourth to take an early 2-0 lead. Freshman Tami Hill (San Diego, Calif.) led off the inning having getting hit by a pitch and advanced to second as sophomore Jo Sherlock (San Diego, Calif.) attempted a sacrifice bunt that was dropped by the Knights' second baseman at first base. Hill would score two batters later as Christina Tucker (San Diego, Calif.) drove a RBI single into left field, also advancing Sherlock to second base. Next batter, junior Jillian Sandoval (Orange, Calif.) flied out to right field, but the throw to second base went out of play for a two-base error, allowing Sherlock to score and Tucker to advance to third. The Red Storm would leave Tucker at third, taking a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth.
Crouch relieved the starter Fitzgerald to begin the bottom of the fourth inning. Fitzgerald pitched three scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and striking out two on the afternoon.
Central Florida threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning as they had back-to-back two out singles to place runners on first and second. Crouch, however, would get Jennifer Whitley to fly out to Sherlock in center to end the inning.
Crouch set the Owls down in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the shutout and the win for the Red Storm. Crouch went four innings, picking up her first career save in relief of Fitzgerald. She allowed only three hits and struck out three, while not allowing a walk.
Hill and Sherlock each recorded a hit and scored a run for the Red Storm, while Tucker recorded St. John's only RBI.
After leaving runners in scoring position in the first two innings of game two, the Knights broke through for three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 3-0 lead. Stephanie Best drilled a three-run home run over the scoreboard in left centerfield with one out to give Central Florida the early advantage.
The Red Storm would add their first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Sherlock drove a triple off the top of the right field wall for St. John's first hit of the game. Sherlock would score as Sainz, the next batter, grounded out to the Knights' first baseman, shortening the deficit to 3-1
The Knights would put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth as they batted around and scored five runs to take an 8-1 lead. Central Florida loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fourth on errors by freshman Loren Anguiano (Mesa, Ariz.) and senior Allina Sainz (San Diego, Calif.) sandwiched around a single. Brytanni Lindheim and Cici Alvarez followed with RBI singles, advancing the runners up a base. With the bases still loaded, Stephanie Best lined a double over Sherlock's head in center to clear the bases and give the Knights an 8-1 lead. Junior Katie Watson (Avendale, Ariz.) came in to replace freshman Kimberly Lerch (Glen Head, N.Y.), who began the inning, to retire the final two batters and escape further trouble.
Central Florida loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fifth inning with one out. Pinch hitter Dana Gilmore grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Crystle Kraft to give the Knights a 9-1 mercy rule win.
Stephanie Best led the Knights, going 3-for-3 with a home run and six RBI in the second game, while Lindsay Enders went five innings to pick up her sixth win of the season, allowing only one run on one hit and one walk.
The Red Storm return to the field on Friday, March 5 to begin the 2004 Seminole Classic, hosted by Florida State University. St. John's will take on Connecticut at 9:30 a.m. and Rhode Island at 1:30 p.m. on the first day of competition.
