St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
College of Charleston
Red Storm Wins Two At College Of Charleston Classic
3/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 14, 2008
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. - The Red Storm softball team (7-13) traveled to Mt. Pleasant, S.C. for its first two games of the College of Charleston Classic. St. John's took on the Binghamton Bearcats in the first game and won 6-0. In its second game of the tournament, the Red Storm faced off with host, College of Charleston, and defeated the Cougars 6-1. St. John's is now on a five game winning streak.
"That was the best we have played all year," said head coach Amy Kvilhaug. "We came out with the right mindset and it carried through all day. Our young players really stepped up and the offense gave great support to our pitching."
In the first game vs. the Bearcats, the Red Storm got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore catcher Brandy Reyes came up with bases loaded and one out and singled to right center to score Danielle Estrada. Two batters later, center fielder Shauntaine Harris boomed the Red Storm's first triple of the year over the head of the left fielder, clearing the base paths and putting St. John's up 4-0.
St. John's added to its lead with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman third baseman Kacee Cox was able to bloop a single over the extended glove of the shortstop, scoring Estrada from second. The Red Storm tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth when Reyes singled up the middle to score pinch-runner Chelsea Durning from second base, making the score 6-0.
Junior first baseman Roxy Struble had one of the best plays of the year so far when she charged a ball bunted down the first base line. Struble had to dive to the ground just to make the stop, and then threw from her stomach to first. Second baseman Bionka King made a great stretch on the cover, falling down to the ground and making the play just in time.
Not to be outdone by her freshman teammate; pitcher Linzee Sumrall was dominant against Binghamton, striking out 8 in seven innings. This performance came just two days after Kat Lawrence struck out 15 in five innings vs. St. Peter's and is the Red Storm's second complete game shutout in row.
The win versus Binghamton was St. John's first win at a neutral site all year.
In St. John's second game of the day, the Red Storm got in front first for the second straight game vs. the College of Charleston Cougars. In the top of the third, with Harris and King on second and first, Durning laid down a sacrifice bunt up the third base line to advance both runners. Cox, the next batter, roped the first pitch she saw to left center, plating both runners with her second double of the day. A batter later, Reyes followed suit, doubling off the left field fence to score Cox and give St. John's a 3-0 lead.
The Red Storm added to its lead in the top of the fifth after a King walk. Durning was able to turn on a fastball and put if off the left field wall for a double. The speed of King did the rest, as she was able to score all the way from first. The doubles kept coming as Cox got her third of the day, hitting a laser down the third base line, easily scoring Durning and giving the Red Storm a 5-1 lead. Two Cougar errors allowed the Red Storm to bring home one more, ending the top of the fifth 6-1.
Lawrence was nothing but solid in her first appearance since her career performance on Wednesday. She allowed just five hits and only two walks while striking out five in a complete game effort.
The Red Storm will take on BIG EAST rival Syracuse tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. at Patriots Point Stadium. St. John's will also square off against Binghamton at 6 p.m. in a rematch of today's game.
