St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Rutgers*
Red Storm Softball Splits with Rutgers
5/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 2, 2004
Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
JAMAICA, N.Y. - The St. John's University softball team split a BIG EAST doubleheader against Rutgers this afternoon at Red Storm Field. The Red Storm, behind three sixth inning runs, took game one, 5-3, but fell in a heartbreaker in game two, 2-0, in 11 innings. St. John's is now 26-24 on the season and 8-8 in the BIG EAST, while the Scarlet Knights are 25-29-1 overall and finish BIG EAST play 8-12.
The Red Storm jumped out to 2-0 lead in game one in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-run home run by junior Jillian Sandoval (Orange, Calif.). With two out, freshman Christina Tucker (San Diego, Calif.) reached on error by the shortstop to extend the inning. Sandoval followed with a shot down the left field line for her third home run of the season.
Senior Courtney Fitzgerald (Bellerose, N.Y.) was perfect through the first four innings, retiring the first 12 Scarlet Knight batters, with seven going down on strikes. However, Rutgers broke up the perfect game as Nikki Childress lead off the inning with a bunt single. With two outs in the inning, the Scarlet Knights ended Fitzgerald's scoreless streak at 33 innings, as Crystal Vargas hit a two-run home run over the left field fence.
St. John's regained the lead in the bottom of sixth inning as they posted three runs to take a 5-2 lead. Freshman Tami Hill (San Diego, Calif.) and sophomore Jo Sherlock (San Diego, Calif.) led off the inning with singles. After Hill was forced out at third, Tucker lined a two-RBI double down the left field line and would move up to third on an error by the left fielder. Sandoval would follow by reaching on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Tucker to score.
Rutgers would fight back in the top of the seventh, as Vargas hit her second home run of the game, a solo shot down the left field line to cut the St. John's lead to 5-3. However, they would get no closer as Fitzgerald closed the door.
Fitzgerald went the distance to improve to 15-3 on the season, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out ten. Tucker and Sandoval each drove in two runs of the Red Storm, while Sherlock posted two hits.
After Fitzgerald pitched a scoreless first inning in game two, freshman Brittany Crouch (Irvine, Calif.) replaced her and ended up pitching the final ten innings. Over her ten innings, Crouch allowed only one run on six hits and one walk, while striking out eight.
Both pitchers were sharp as neither St. John's nor Rutgers could move the runners around the bases through the scheduled seven innings. The Red Storm had the best opportunity in the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, as sophomore Jessica Marical (Stanton, Calif.) led off with a single and classmate Megan Oliver (Endicott, N.Y.) reached on a fielders choice sacrifice attempt, moving Marical to second. Hill moved them over to second and third on a sacrifice bunt, but St. John's left them stranded as Rutgers starter Brielle Cosentino got the next two batters to ground out.
Again in the bottom of the ninth, the Red Storm had another strong possibility to win the game. With runners on first and third and two outs, Marical hit a ball in the hole between shortstop and third base. On the play, Marical was called out on a close play at first, to end another St. John's rally.
After the ten innings of shutout play by the two teams, Rutgers finally broke through for two runs that would hold up for the 2-0 win. With one out and one on in the 11th inning, Nikki Childress hit a two-run home run over the left field wall for the game's only runs.
The Red Storm continue BIG EAST play at Red Storm Field next weekend, when they host Syracuse on Saturday, May 8 at noon.
