St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Bucknell
St. John's Splits At First Day Of Leadoff Classic
2/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 21, 2009
STJ vs. Longwood | STJ vs. Bucknell | Photo Gallery 
Farmville, N.Y. - The St. John's softball team (4-3) took part in the first day of the Longwood Leadoff Classic taking on the Longwood Lancers (2-3) and Bucknell Bison (3-4). In the first game of the day, the Lancers topped the Red Storm, 2-1. St. John's regrouped in game two, topping Bucknell, 5-0.
"Our pitching was very strong today and we had a bounce-back win against Bucknell which showed this team's character," said head coach Amy Kvilhaug. "We need to minimize our mistakes and we pressed for hits to start the day. Zee [Sumrall] is really starting to gain confidence every time she takes the mound."
In the first game of the tournament, the Red Storm was able to load the bases with two outs in the top of the first inning. Freshman Kristi Cady was able to work the walk and force in classmate Meghan Gwynn and gave STJ a 1-0 lead.
Sophomore Kat Lawrence held the Lancers hitless through 4.2 innings while striking out four, but Longwood finally got on the board with a home run from Maggie Margadonna to tie the score, 1-1.
St. John's threatened in the top of the sixth, getting a leadoff single from sophomore Erin Harris, who then stole second base. Freshman Julia Sanchez executed the sacrifice bunt to advance Harris to third, but Longwood's Briana Wells was able to settle down and retire the next two batters to get the Lancers out of the inning.
Longwood tacked on a run in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead, 2-1, and Wells was able to stymie the Red Storm bats in the top of the seventh inning and gave the Lancers the win.
The second game of the day pitted the Red Storm against Bucknell. St. John's got on the board quickly, as senior first baseman Roxy Struble belted her second home run of the season and gave STJ a 1-0 lead.
St. John's loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning after a fielder's choice by Harris, a walk by Sanchez and a hit-by-pitch on sophomore Chelsea Durning. Gwynn then worked a walk to force in Harris and put the Red Storm up 2-0. The next batter, Struble, continued her big day as she singled up the middle to plate Sanchez and Durning and gave STJ a four run advantage.
In the bottom of the sixth, pinch-hitter Rachel Paragas doubled to the right-center gap and scored Cady and Harris who had reached on an error and hit-by-pitch. Paragas' double was the first of her career and gave the Red Storm a 5-0 lead.
Sophomore Linzee Sumrall was sensational in the circle for St. John's. The Denham Springs, La. native recorded her third complete game this season while holding the Bison scoreless and striking out a career-best 13 batters. Sumrall struck out four batters in first inning and K'd the side in the second, giving up just three hits on her way to one her best performances for the Red Storm.
St. John's plays in the final day of the Leadoff Classic tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. when the squad takes on Quinnipiac and then plays at either 2 or 4 p.m. in seeded play.
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.
