St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Hofstra
Red Storm Softball Split Doubleheader at Hofstra
4/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 22, 2004
Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - The St. John's University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader this afternoon at Hofstra. In game one, the Red Storm took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh and held on for a 3-2 win over the Pride. In the game, sophomore Jo Sherlock (San Diego, Calif.) hit her 16th career home run, the game-winner, breaking the St. John's all-time career home run record. In the finale, Hofstra exploded for five runs with two-outs in the bottom of the fifth to put the game away, taking it 7-0. The Red Storm remain even on the season at 20-20 with the split, while the Pride hold a 21-16 record.
Hofstra threatened but didn't score in the first two innings of game one, as they stranded runner on third in both innings. In the second inning, Meaghan Almon led off with an infield single and advanced to third with one out on a stolen base and an infield out. However, senior Courtney Fitzgerald (Bellerose, N.Y.) struck out the next two batters swinging to end the inning.
St. John's got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning, as they took a 2-0 lead. Junior Allina Sainz (San Diego, Calif.) led off the inning with a walk and moved to second as classmate Jillian Sandoval (Orange, Calif.) reached first on an attempted sacrifice bunt. Sherlock grounded out to second, moving both runners up a base. Freshman Loren Anguiano (Mesa, Ariz.) drove home both Sainz and Sandoval as she ripped a double off the top of the left centerfield wall.
Freshman Kimberly Lerch (Glen Head, N.Y.) relieved Fitzgerald to begin the bottom of the fifth inning. Fitzgerald went four innings, holding the Pride scoreless on one hit and two walks, while striking out three. She had retired eight in a row before walking Meaghan Almon with two outs in the bottom of the fourth.
The Red Storm added another run in the top of the sixth inning to increase the lead to 3-0 on a Sherlock solo home run. With one out, she took the ball to straight away center for her ninth home run of the season and 16th of her career, breaking the St. John's career home run record, held by Kelly Houghton.
Hofstra closed the gap to 3-2 as Nicole Klemm lined a two-run home run over the left field wall with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Junior Katie Watson (Avondale, Ariz.) replaced Lerch with one out in the seventh, to retire the last two Pride batters and pick up her first save of the season.
The Pride jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of the second game. Ashley Lane lined an RBI double with one out for the first run and came around to score herself on a RBI single by Tara Ulrich.
St. John's had their best opportunity in the top of the fifth inning as Sherlock advanced to third with only one out after a leadoff single. However, Hofstra starter Callie Osborne retired the next two batters to hold onto the shutout.
Hofstra put the game away in the bottom of the fifth inning, making it 7-0, as the Pride hit two home runs with two outs. Ashley Lane hit a two-run home run over the right field fence to begin the scoring rally. After two singles, Adrienne Clark lined a ball down the left field line, off the foul pole for a three-run home run.
The Red Storm return to BIG EAST play when they travel to Storrs, Conn. on Saturday, April 24 to take on Connecticut in a doubleheader beginning at noon.
