St. John's University Athletics
Softball Starts Three Game Roadtrip At Fairfield
4/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
??? The St. John???s softball team will begin a three game roadtrip with a single game at Fairfield, April 25, at 4 p.m. The Red Storm heads to Villanova to make up its BIG EAST doubleheader against the Wildcats on Thursday, April 26, at 3 p.m.
??? The Red Storm is coming of a 2-2 weekend against conference opponents Syracuse and Pittsburgh. St. John???s split with each team. The Syracuse Orange made the trip to Queens first, stealing game one in a 3-2, eight-inning decision. Game two against Syracuse featured a 12-11 ten-inning thriller in which the Red Storm charged back from an 11-run deficit to capture the victory. Highlights include a grand-slam from Loren Anguiano and solo home run from rookie Brandy Reyes. The Pittsburgh Panthers also earned a game one victory at Red Storm Field on Sunday, April 22, 5-1. Once again, St. John???s bounced back to take game two, 8-2. Starting pitcher Kim Lerch got her second conference win of the season against Pittsburgh and her third consecutive victory in three starts. She has not allowed more than one earned run in each game.
??? The Fairfield Stags swept a pair of non-conference games against Georgetown last weekend, 3-2 and 5-0. Freshman Jen Gilbert tossed a four-hit shutout in the second game of a doubleheader and earned Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of the Week honors. The Stags are 7-1 on their home field but the Red Storm own a 14-11 record in the all-time series.
??? Villanova is also riding a two-game win streak heading into its games against St. John???s. The Wildcats swept a pair of BIG EAST games against Providence last weekend, 6-4 and 1-0. Behind a four-hit shutout from junior Kat Walsh, Villanova did just enough to hang on and get the 1-0 victory. The win was the 600th career victory for Villanova head coach Maria DiBernardi. The Wildcats own the all-time series between the two teams, 28-17.
??? To follow the games live via Gametracker or live audio, please visit www.Fairfield.cstv.com or www.Villanova.cstv.com.
Last Time Out
St. John???s vs. Pittsburgh
Game One: L, 5-1
Game Two: W, 8-2
??? The St. John???s softball team split a pair of games against BIG EAST foe Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon, falling 5-1 in game one before cruising to an 8-2 victory in the game two. Senior pitcher Kim Lerch earned her second conference win of the season and her eighth overall, allowing only one earned run on four hits.
??? The Red Storm used another strong team-effort to overcome the Panthers and take control of the game in the fourth innings. Danielle Estrada???s solo-home run in the bottom of the frame put the Red Storm back up, 3-2. Spring Montgomery???s double to center field chased the Panther???s starting pitcher Laura Belarinelli from the game. Melissa Pilley came in to pinch run for Montgomery and St. John???s loaded the bases on a single from Bionka King and a walk to Ona Halladay. Loren Anguiano cleared the bags with hard-hit double to right field.
??? Despite taking the game one loss, pitcher Lisa Geer did a solid job in the circle, matching her career-high in strikeouts with 11.
Ms. Consistency
??? Rookie Brandy Reyes has been the Red Storm???s most consistent hitter all season long and her hard work has started to earn her recognition around the BIG EAST. The catcher was named to the conference???s weekly honor roll after she hit .571 in a 5-3 week for the Red Storm. In conference games last week, she went 9-for-16 at the plate with four runs, three RBI, two doubles and homer. Overall, she is hitting a team high .401 at the plate and with 57 hits, 15 runs, 17 RBI, nine doubles and two homers. Reyes leads the conference with a .482 batting average, 27 hits and an on-base percentage of .516.
Storm Tracker
??? Senior Loren Anguiano is currently second on the team with a .307 batting average and has been hot at the plate as of late. She leads her team with 13 doubles, which is also a career high for the third baseman. In conference games, Anguiano leads the league in doubles (9), is tied for first in run scored (15) with teammate Roxann Struble and is second in hits with 23.
??? Senior second baseman Tami Hill has become one of the Red Storm???s most reliable hitters as she has now hit safely in St. John???s last 14 games. She is fourth on the team with a .289 batting average and 46 hits. Her 10 doubles is third best on the squad and ranks third in the BIG EAST. Co-captain Bionka King has continued her impressive play as the starting left fielder. She is third on the team with a .293 batting average and has 34 hits and 14 RBI overall.
??? Roxann Struble has been outstanding for the Red Storm in recent play and made the BIG EAST???s Honor Roll for the week of April 2. Seven of her eight home runs have come in BIG EAST games. In conference action, Struble has been walked a league high 11 times, is tied for first place in runs (15), second in home runs (7) and fourth in slugging percentage (.796). Overall, the infielder is hitting .260 at the plate and leads the team with 29 RBI and eight home runs.
??? Newcomers Shauntaine Harris, Ona Halladay, Spring Montgomery and Tiffany D???Alessandro have each had their moment to shine for the Red Storm. Harris???s 16 RBI is third best on the team and she has notched three home runs to go with her superb play in centerfield. Halladay posted her second double of the season in a conference game against Seton Hall and has 12 hits so far this season. Montgomery has driven in nine RBI and three doubles, spending time as the first basemen and the designated player while D???Alessandro has seen time in three BIG EAST games. She is hitting .333 over those three games with one hit and one run.
??? In the circle, senior Kim Lerch has tossed 143.0 innings so far this season and is fifth in the BIG EAST in innings pitched. She has set a new career-high in strikeouts with 82 and has won her last three consecutive starts.
??? Junior pitcher Lisa Geer has struck out 118 batters so far this season and is on course to break her career high of 138. She is holding opponents to a .260 batting average.
