St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Boston College*
Red Storm Softball Split Doubleheader at Boston College
4/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 25, 2004
CHESTNUT HILL, MASS. - The St. John's University softball team split a BIG EAST doubleheader this afternoon at Boston College, closing out their road portion of the 2004 schedule. The Red Storm exploded in game one to knock off the Eagles, 10-0, but fell in the finale, 5-2. The Red Storm are currently 21-23 overall and 5-7 in the league, while the Eagles hold a 27-21 overall record and 7-9 mark in the conference.
The Red Storm jumped out early with three runs in the top of the first inning of game one before the game's first out. Sophomore Megan Oliver (Endicott, N.Y.) led off by reaching on an error by the shortstop and junior Jillian Sandoval (San Diego, Calif.) followed with a walk. Sophomore Jo Sherlock (San Diego, Calif.) lined a double down the left field line to score Oliver and move Sandoval to third. Sherlock's double was her 16th of the season, tying the school's single-season doubles record, held by Melissa Valencia in 1998. Both Sandoval and Sherlock scored as junior Allina Sainz (San Diego, Calif.) hit a two-RBI single to the right centerfield gap. The two runs scored and two RBI helped the 2004 Red Storm team surpass the previous single-season totals of 200 runs by the 1995 team and 170 RBI by last year's squad.
St. John's added to their lead in the top of the fourth inning, as they took advantage of Boston College errors to score seven runs and take a 10-0 lead. With the bases loaded and one out, sophomore Blair Belloni (Newport, Ore.) lined a ball into the left field, scoring one run, but the St. John's runner was forced out at third on the play. Oliver followed with a ground ball to second that was dropped by the second baseman, allowing one run to score and Belloni to move up to third. Sandoval lined a RBI double into the right centerfield gap, scoring Belloni and placing runners at second and third. After Sherlock was walked to load the bases, Sainz hit a ball hard to second that bounced off the second baseman, allowing two runs to score. The runs continue to cross the plate as Tucker hit a RBI single back up the middle. The final run of the inning was scored by Sainz as she moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball.
Senior Courtney Fitzgerald (Bellerose, N.Y.) went the distance for the Red Storm, picking up her 11th win of the season and 53rd of her St. John's career. Her 53rd win ties Gina Calabrese as the school's all-time career wins leader. Fitzgerald went five innings, allowing no runs on only two hits and no walks, while striking out eight Eagles. The shutout was Fitzgerald's 18th of her career, tying Tami Weber for all-time lead.
Boston College struck first in the bottom of the first inning in game two for two runs. With the bases loaded and two outs, Elyse Meredith lined a two-RBI single down the left field line accounting for the two runs.
The Red Storm threatened in the top of the second inning, but the inning ended as sophomore Leigh Carlson (Howland, Ohio) was thrown out at the plate on a single through the right side by Oliver.
The Eagles added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend their lead to 5-0. With two outs, Erin Mackey lined a RBI single down the left field line and Ashley Obrest followed with a two-RBI single into left for the three runs.
St. John's scored their first run of game two in the top of the sixth inning, as Carlson drilled her first career home run. Carlson led off the inning with a shot over the left field wall to cut the deficit to 5-1.
Fitzgerald came in to relieve freshman Brittany Crouch (Irvine, Calif.) with two outs in bottom of the fourth and retired all seven batters she faced. Over the seven batters, the ball did not leave the infield, along with striking out three.
A solo home run by Sandoval to lead off the seventh inning cut the Eagle lead to 5-2, but the Red Storm could not muster another run as they comeback fell short.
Sandoval went 3-for-3 in game two, including her second home run of the season, combining to go 4-for-5 with three runs and two RBI over the doubleheader.
The Red Storm return to the field for their final non-conference doubleheader of the season on Wednesday, April 28, when they host Sacred Heart, beginning at 3 p.m.
