St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
LONG ISLAND
St. John's Tripped Up Against LIU
4/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 9, 2008
QUEENS, N.Y. - The Red Storm softball team took on local rival LIU in a single game at Red Storm Field on Wednesday. The game was a back-and-forth affair for six innings but LIU took the lead in the seventh to win the game 6-1.
"It was a tough, competitive game versus a good opponent," said head coach Amy Kvilhaug. "LIU hit the ball better than we did and made adjustments to pitching before we could. We need to stay mentally strong heading into this weekend."
The Blackbirds were the first to strike in the top of the second inning. After a single up the middle, the runner was able to advance on passed ball then score on a double by the next batter, giving LIU the 1-0 lead.
After giving up a run in the second, St. John's freshman starter Kat Lawrence cruised for the next four innings, spacing out five hits while not walking a single batter.
The Red Storm answered in the bottom of the sixth. After a walk by freshman Kacee Cox and a single by sophomore Brandy Reyes, Roxy Struble came in to pinch hit. Struble was able to single up the middle to send Cox for home. The play at the plate was close but the catcher could not hold onto the ball as St. John's tied the game at one.
In the top of the seventh, the game got away from the Red Storm. Back-to-back singles and a walk, loaded bases for the Blackbirds. Two pitches later, LIU touted a 5-1 lead after a grand slam to center. LIU added one more to end the inning with a 6-1 lead.
St. John's did get a runner to third in the bottom of the seventh but could not bring her around to score.
On the day, Reyes went 2-for-2 with a walk, upping her season batting average to .353. Lawrence finished the game with six strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
The Red Storm now head to the Northeast for doubleheaders against BIG EAST opponents UConn and Providence. St. John's will take on the Huskies on Saturday at Noon in Storrs, Conn. and then face the Friars on Sunday at Noon in Providence, R.I.
