St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Rider
St. John's Sweeps Rider
3/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 25, 2009
QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's softball team (9-12) swept Rider in a doubleheader in a non-conference tilt at Red Storm Field, 8-3 and 4-2. Three home runs and squad's first save this season led to two victories for head coach Amy Kvilhaug and the team.
The Broncs (5-13) got on the board first in game one, as Rider got a two-RBI single from Amanda Centeno in the top of the third inning.
St. John's immediately answered when the squad loaded the bases on back-to-back-to-back singles from Julia Sanchez, Chelsea Durning, and Roxy Struble. Sophomore Kacee Cox took care of the rest, belting a shot to dead center for the grand slam. Not to be outdone, Stacia Dopudja followed Cox's lead, raking a pitch over the centerfield fence to put St. John's up, 5-2.
The Red Storm offense kept it going in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs, STJ got a single form Sanchez, followed by a walk from Durning. Struble gave St. John's its sixth run of the day with a single through the right side and Cox continued her big day as she singled to right field to score Durning. Struble also scored on the play as the right fielder booted the ball to allow the eighth Red Storm run to score.
Rider got a run back in the top of the sixth inning on a stolen base to push the score to 8-3, but that was as close as the Broncs could get.
Sophomore Linzee Sumrall picked up her sixth win of the season, topping her total from last season, with a complete game performance, striking out nine.
In game two, Rider was able to get on top early with a solo home run from shortstop Katy Mills.
St. John's got the run back in the bottom of the third inning when Struble singled after Durning tripled to right field.
The Red Storm got runners at second and third with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning and capitalized on the situation as Sanchez singled to third, beating out the throw for the RBI and 2-1 STJ lead.
Rider was able to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single from Derrin Minunni.
The tie game did not last long as Durning led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double to center and was followed by Struble who quickly erased the tie, roping the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for her fifth home run of the season and a 4-2 St. John's lead.
Sophomore Kat Lawrence went six innings and struck out seven and Sumrall entered the game in the seventh inning for her first career save.
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.
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.
