St. John's University Athletics
Red Storm Softball Takes On Rider
3/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 24, 2009
QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's softball team (9-12, 1-3) hosts the Rider Broncs (5-11) in a non-conference, doubleheader this Wednesday at 3 p.m. held at Red Storm Field.
• Live stats will be available for the game at www.RedStormSports.com. Live audio will also be streamed live with St. John's own play-by-play man, Ralph Bednarczyk.
• Rider leads the all-time series, 11-6, but St. John's swept the last two games, winning 8-6 and 8-2 in 2007.
• Senior slugger Roxy Struble continues to lead the Red Storm offense, pacing the team in batting average (.388), hits (26), home runs (4), RBI (17), total bases (44) and slugging percentage (.657). Struble also played shortstop for the first time in her collegiate career in the team's last game against Notre Dame.
• St. John's pitching boasts 17 complete games and four shutouts in 21 games this season. The staff has struck out 186 batters in just 139.0 innings.
STORM FRONT
• Sophomore leadoff hitter Chelsea Durning continues to be the sparkplug for the Red Storm offense. She leads St. John's in runs (12), walks (5), HBP (6) and on-base percentage (.427).
• 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 two doubles and two RBI while hitting .308 in BIG EAST play over the weekend. The Simi Valley, Calif., native has also done a great job behind the plate, managing the pitching staff to a 2.77 ERA and 186 strikeouts in just 139.0 innings.
• Freshman Kristi Cady is proving to be a fixture in the Red Storm lineup and in center, playing every game for St. John's this year. Cady's seven doubles lead the team and her five stolen bases pace the squad. She is also third on the team with eight runs.
• Freshman shortstop Jenna Berger has turned it on as of late and is now second on the team with seven RBI.
• Junior transfer Stacia Dopudja has settled into the five spot in the Red Storm lineup. The Southeast Missouri State transfer has seven runs, six doubles, two home runs and seven RBI for St. John's this year.
• Sophomore Linzee Sumrall has a 2.18 ERA on the season with 100 strikeouts in 67.1 innings this season. Classmate Kat Lawrence has kept up in the K department, striking out 82 batters in 68.2 innings in 12 appearances this year.
SCOUTING RIDER
• The Rider Broncs are 5-11 on the season after going 12-34 a year ago and 4-12 in the Metro Atlantic Conference.
• Rider is led by head coach Tricia Carroll who is 314-381 in 14 seasons with the Broncs.
• The team returns 11 letterwinners along with six starters and four pitchers.
• The Broncs are batting .242 as a team and has a team ERA of 4.78.
• Junior outfielder Allyson Melia leads Rider with a .317 batting average in 19 games and has 11 runs, two doubles, four RBI and two stolen bases this year.
• Junior utility player Candice Harris paces the Broncs with four home runs and 11 RBI with a .232 batting average.
• Freshman Kelsey Krisch leads the squad with a 4.33 ERA in seven appearances this year and has 13 strikeouts in 21.0 innings.
• Freshman Rachel Matreale is second on the team with 4.36 ERA and leads the team with 10 appearances, nine starts, five complete games and 31 strikeouts in 53.0 innings.
ON DECK
St. John's continues its BIG EAST schedule this weekend at home when the team takes on Louisville in a doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday, March 28. The squad will then hosts Pittsburgh in a doubleheader in two days at noon on Sunday, March 29.
