St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Set For Home BIG EAST Weekend
4/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 24, 2009
QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's softball team (22-19, 10-8) faces off in home series against the Connecticut Huskies (25-17, 7-10) this Saturday at noon before facing the Providence Friars (14-29, 6-9) in a senior day two-game set at noon on Sunday at Red Storm Field.
• Live stats for each conference matchup will be available at RedStormSports.com. Live audio will also be available on the official website of St. John's Athletics.
• Connecticut leads the all-time series, 52-12. St. John's last victory vs. the Huskies came in a doubleheader in 2007, 7-2. St. John's leads the all-time meetings tally with Providence, 36-31, with the team's last win coming in 2007, 5-4.
• St. John's went 3-3 last week in conference, splitting BIG EAST doubleheaders with Villanova, Seton Hall and USF. The Red Storm lost a non-conference tilt at LIU on April 16, 3-2, in eight innings.
• The Red Storm received stellar pitching from sophomore Kat Lawrence last week as she went 3-0 in conference, throwing her second-career no-hitter with 13 strikeouts vs. Seton Hall, and shutout USF to earn her career-best 12th victory.
STORM FRONT
• Senior Roxy Struble continues to lead the Red Storm offense, pacing the team in batting average (.429), hits (54), RBI (32), total bases (86), walks (14), on-base percentage (.482) and slugging percentage (.683). The senior is now second in the BIG EAST and tied for 17th in the nation in batting average. Struble has also transitioned to shortstop after beginning the season as a corner infielder.
• Sophomore starter Linzee Sumrall has a team-leading 183 strikeouts in 136.2 innings. Sumrall also has 17 complete games, four shutouts and three saves to pace the squad.
• Lawrence has kept up in the K department, striking out 153 batters in 132.2 innings this year. The right-hander also leads the team with a 2.59 ERA and a 12-9 record to go along with 14 complete games and four shutouts.
• Sophomore leadoff hitter Chelsea Durning continues to be the sparkplug for the Red Storm offense. The outfielder leads St. John's in runs (33), doubles (13), triples (1), walks (14) and HBP (9) and is second on the squad in at-bats (125), batting average (.352), hits (44) and on-base percentage (.453).
• Since transitioning to catcher after playing most of 2008 at third base, Kacee Cox has found her groove at the plate. Cox, who was the team's offensive leader a season ago, has a .333 batting average, eight runs, four doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI, a .557 slugging percentage and a .444 on-base percentage in BIG EAST play this season.
• Junior transfer Stacia Dopudja has moved into the cleanup spot in the Red Storm lineup and has provided power in the middle of the order for St. John's. Dopudja is third on the team with a .304 batting average, eight doubles and 18 RBI, and second on the squad with seven home runs and a .557 slugging percentage.
• Junior outfielder Shauntaine Harris has played well in BIG EAST games this season, batting 43 points higher in conference play. Harris is batting .293 in BIG EAST games and has seven runs, four doubles, a home run, six RBI and three steals against conference foes.
• Freshman middle infielder Jenna Berger hit her first-two career home runs on April 15 at Seton Hall. Berger now has five runs, a double and nine RBI in conference play.
SCOUTING CONNECTICUT
• The Connecticut Huskies are 25-17, 7-10 after going 28-33, 14-7 a year ago.
• The Huskies are led by head coach Karen Mullins who is 733-462-5 in 25 years with UConn.
• The team returns 12 letterwinners along with eight starters and two pitchers.
• Connecticut is batting .254 as a team and has an ERA of 2.24.
• Julianne Towers paces the squad with a .394 batting average, 56 hits, 34 runs, 10 doubles and two triples. Towers is also second on the team with six home runs.
• Micah Truax is second on the squad with a .321 average and paces the Huskies with seven home runs and 10 stolen bases. Truax also has three doubles and 18 RBI.
• Danielle Del Ponte leads the team with 25 RBI. She also has five doubles, four home runs and a .291 batting average through 39 games.
• Tricia Sullivan leads UConn with a 14-7 record and 126.0 innings pitched. Sullivan is second on the team with a 2.00 ERA and 118 strikeouts.
• Rachel Crossin paces the squad with 133 strikeouts over 108.2 innings. Crossin is second on the team with 7-9 record and third with a 2.13 ERA.
SCOUTING PROVIDENCE
• The Providence Friars are 14-29, 6-9 after going 25-25-2, 8-12 a year ago.
• The Friars are led by head coach Kerri Jacklets who is 77-68-3 in three years with PC.
• The team returns 13 letterwinners along with eight starters and two pitchers.
• Providence is batting .253 as a team and has an ERA of 4.02.
• Mary Rose Sheehy paces the Friars with a .371 batting average, 49 hits, nine doubles, three triples and 31 RBI. She also has 19 runs and six home runs on the year.
• Jenna Garcia is second on the squad with a .287 average. Garcia has 20 runs, nine doubles, and 11 RBI this year.
• Christy Becker leads the team with seven home runs and is third on the team with a .280 batting average and 16 RBI.
• Danielle Bertolette paces Providence with five wins, 25 appearances, 22 starts, eight complete games and 67 strikeouts in 126.0 innings pitched. Bertolette also has a 3.78 ERA.
• Jennifer Maccio is second on the team with 22 strikeouts over 63.1 innings. Maccio also has a 3-5 record in 10 starts.
ON DECK
The Red Storm wraps up its seven-game homestand on Wednesday, April 29, in a doubleheader vs. Fairleigh Dickinson at 3 p.m.
