St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Softball Takes On Hofstra In Home Opener
3/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 17, 2009
QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's softball team has its home opener on Wednesday, when the squad takes on the Pride of Hofstra at 4 p.m., at Red Storm Field.
• Hofstra leads the all-time series with St. John's 24-12-1. Hofstra won the last meeting between the two school in the Red Storm's season finale last year, 8-0.
• Live stats will be available at www.RedStormSports.com and live audio can also be accessed at the site with St. John's own play-by-play man, Joe Guster.
• Weather has not been on the Red Storm's side as five of its past 10 games, including its last vs. Hawai'i at the Chevron Spring Fling in Honolulu, have been canceled due to inclement weather conditions.
• Senior slugger Roxy Struble continues to lead the Red Storm offense, pacing the team in batting average (.404), hits (21), doubles (6), home runs (2), RBI (12), total bases (33) and slugging percentage (.635). Struble was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll on March 16 for the third time this season.
• St. John's pitching boasts 12 complete games and four shutouts in 16 games this season. The staff has also limited opponents to a .199 batting average and has struck out 154 batters in just 106.1 innings. Sophomore Linzee Sumrall set a new career-high with 16 strikeouts in 6.0 innings against Utah.
STORM FRONT
• Sophomore leadoff hitter Chelsea Durning continues to be the sparkplug for the Red Storm offense. She leads St. John's in runs (10), walks (5), HBP (3) and on-base percentage (.456). Over the past week at the Hawai'i Spring Fling, Durning hit .353 (6-for-17) with two runs.
• After transitioning to catcher after playing most of last season at third base, sophomore Kacee Cox is beginning to pick up where she left off last season. Cox, who was the team's offensive leader a season ago, had four hits, a run and a double this past week in Honolulu. The Simi Valley, Calif. native has also done a great job behind the plate, managing the pitching staff to a 2.30 ERA and 154 strikeouts in just 106.1 innings.
• Senior Melissa Pilley made three starts and four appearances at the Hawai'i Spring fling. The outfielder hit .375 (3-for-8) and drove in her first career RBI, which proved to be the game-winner vs. Wisconsin.
• Freshman shortstop Jenna Berger led the Red Storm with two RBI this past week in Honolulu. Classmate Rachel Paragas also has recorded two RBI along with her first career home run vs. Radford.
SCOUTING HOFSTRA
• The Hofstra Pride is 5-11 on the season after going 45-13 a year ago.
• Hofstra is led by head coach Bill Edwards who is 695-330-3 in nine years with the Pride.
• St. John's local rival returns seven starters and three pitchers from last year's squad.
• Hofstra is batting .248 as a team and has a team ERA of 2.98.
• Junior first baseman Michele DePasquale leads the Pride with a .442 batting average, and has five runs, three doubles, a home run and seven RBI.
• Sophomore Sara Michalowski leads Hofstra with 10 RBI in 53 at-bats. Michalowski also has a 1.72 ERA and two complete games in four appearances.
• Senior pitcher Kayleigh Lotti is 5-4 on the season with 67 strikeouts in 58.2 innings.
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.
