St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Temple
St. John's Takes Two At FIU Tournament
2/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 13, 2009
Miami, Fla. - The St. John's softball team began its 2009 season on Friday in Miami, Fla. at the Blue and Gold Felsburg Memorial FIU Tournament. St. John's took on the Temple Owls in its first game of the year and won its first season-opening game since 2005 with a 4-3 victory. In its second game versus host FIU, the Red Storm shutout the Golden Panthers, 4-0.
"It was an exciting day. We came out with the right amount of energy and intensity," said head coach Amy Kvilhaug. "Kat was great for us. You cannot ask for more than two complete games and two wins. I was also pleased with our defense and timely hitting which helped us to victory."
In the first game sophomore starter Kat Lawrence picked up where she left off last season, striking out the first two batters she faced and retired the side in order. Lawrence finished the game, allowing only two earned runs and struck out 10.
After Temple put up two runs in the bottom of the second, St. John's got a double to the gap in left-center from freshman Meghan Gwynn to leadoff the top of the third. The Red Storm then put one on the scoreboard when junior Stacia Dopudja singled to score Gwynn. It was Dopudja's first hit and RBI in a Red Storm uniform.
St. John's led off the sixth inning with back-to-back singles from Dopudja and freshman Kristi Cady, the first hit of young career. A double steal by pinch-runner Melissa Pilley and Cady and a walk by pinch-hitter Rachel Paragas loaded the bases for St. John's. An RBI groundout from freshman Laura Guzman tied the game at two.
In the bottom of the sixth Temple loaded the bases with no outs but Lawrence was able to keep her composure and strike out the next three batters to get the Red Storm out of the inning unscathed.
In the top of the seventh senior Roxy Struble came through for the Red Storm. After a Kacee Cox double, Struble roped a laser over the leftfield fence to give St. John's a 4-2 lead.
Temple got one run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh but it was not enough as Lawrence finished out the game to give St. John's the 4-3 victory.
It took two and half innings but St. John's was the first to get on the board in its late-night showdown with FIU. In the bottom of the third inning St. John's got two runners in scoring position and Gwynn registered her first career RBI on a sacrifice fly to score freshman Julia Sanchez, giving the Red Storm a 1-0 advantage.
Struble continued her big day for St. John's raking a double to the left-center gap for an RBI double as the Red Storm increased its lead to 2-0 in the third.
Dopudja, who went 3-for-3 in the first game, also continued her hot streak. The Southeast Missouri transfer followed Struble's double with a two-run home run over the leftfield fence. The homer highlighted a four run inning for the Red Storm.
Lawrence took care of the rest for St. John's. The sophomore threw her second game of the day and scattered three hits over seven innings, striking out five batters and holding the Golden Panthers scoreless for her second win in just 11 hours.
The Red Storm returns to action tomorrow Saturday, Feb. 14 in a Valentine's Day doubleheader. The squad faces Florida Gulf coast at noon and Michigan State at 2 p.m.
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.
