St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Splits in Fall Tournament
9/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Sept. 13, 2008
Box Score: St. John's 5 - Manhattan 0
Box Score: St. John's 0 - Fordham 9
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's kicked off its fall softball season, hosting its own tournament on Saturday at Red Storm field. The Red Storm started off the first game of the day, downing the Jaspers of Manhattan 5-0. In its second game, the Red Storm offense could not get going as the Fordham Rams won 9-0.
After two hitless innings by both sides in the first game of the tournament, the Red Storm bats came alive to strike in the third inning. Rookie third baseman Julia Sanchez got the action started with a single and was followed by fellow freshman Shannan Valentin who reached on an error by the second baseman. With two runners on and two outs, sophomore catcher Kacee Cox cleared the bases with a single to the gap in left-center giving the Red Storm a 2-0.
St. John's added to its lead in the top of the fifth when Valentin started off the inning with a single and then stole second to put herself in scoring position. Senior first baseman Roxy Struble came up with two outs and delivered a single which scored Valentin and pushed the Red Storm lead to 3-0.
The Red Storm runs kept coming in the seventh inning. After a walk and single, pinch-hitter Rachel Paragas doubled to right field to score freshman Kristi Cady and Struble, giving St. John's a 5-0 advantage.
Sophomore pitcher Kat Lawrence was spectacular in her first outing of the fall, holding the Jaspers hitless until the bottom of the sixth inning. Lawrence finished with eight strikeouts and just two hits in a complete game effort.
St. John's took on Fordham in the third and final game of the day. Fordham was able to jump out to an early lead, scoring a run in the first inning. The Rams offense continued to click in the third inning as they rallied to score five more runs. The Red Storm got back-to-back singles in the bottom half of the third inning but could not drive home any runs as Fordham's Beckha Wiggins was able to stifle St. John's bats.
St. John's sophomore Chelsea Durning came up with play of day vs. Fordham, tracking down a ball in right field with two outs and runners on the corners in the fourth inning. Durning got a great jump on a ball hit almost to center and dove at the opportune moment, sliding into centerfield to make the catch.
In the middle game of the day, Fordham downed the Jaspers 7-3 in a seven-inning affair.
The Red Storm softball squad returns to action Sept. 25 when the team takes on the LIU Blackbirds in Brooklyn, N.Y. St. John's will also host its annual Alumni game Saturday, Sept. 20 at noon. The game will be held at Red Storm field in Queens, N.Y. Interested alumni should contact head softball coach Amy Kvilhaug at kvilhaua@stjohns.edu.
If you would like to receive the most up-to-date information on the 2008-09 St. John's softball team, please send your e-mail address to michael.gambardella03@stjohns.edu.
