St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Fairleigh Dickinson
St. John's Splits Doubleheader Vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
4/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 29, 2009
QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's softball team (23-22) wrapped up its seven-game homestand and home finale vs. Fairleigh Dickinson in a doubleheader on Wednesday at Red Storm Field and split the games as FDU won, 3-0, in game one, but STJ used strong pitching to take game two, 2-0.
The Knights got on the board first in game one as Fairleigh Dickinson loaded the bases in the top of the second inning. A hit-by-pitch and a walk crossed two runs for FDU but junior Stacia Dopudja, who made her first start of the season, induced a pop-out to avoid further damage.
FDU used an RBI single from Kim Carbaugh in the top of the third inning to increase its lead to three.
Sophomore pitcher Kat Lawrence entered in relief in the third inning and recorded the final out of the inning on three straight strikes. Lawrence continued to rack up the K's, as she struck out the side in the top of the fifth.
Lawrence was nearly perfect in four innings, allowing just one hit while striking out seven, but the Red Storm offense could not get to FDU's Caitlin Bradac as she limited STJ to six hits.
Fairleigh Dickinson threatened early in game two after a single and a stolen base. A single to centerfield allowed the FDU runner to head for home, but Kristi Cady threw a rope to catcher Kacee Cox to gun down the runner and keep the Knights off the board.
The Red Storm offense looked to rebound in game two and got two on-base from a walk by sophomore Chelsea Durning, a bunt single by senior Roxy Struble in the bottom of the first inning. Back-to-back hit-by-pitches on Cox and Dopudja pushed a run across and gave St. John's its first run of the day.
With a runner on second in the bottom of the fifth inning, Cox continued her hard hitting on the day and finally found a gap. The sophomore belted a shot off of the centerfield fence which plated Durning, who reached on a fielder's choice and then stole second, which put STJ up, 2-0.
Lawrence carried her strong play into game two, as she limited the Knights to four hits in her 16th complete game and fifth shutout of the season. The sophomore did not walk a batter in two appearances and struck out 12 in game two to push her total to 19 strikeouts in just 11.0 innings pitched on the day.
The Red Storm travels to Washington, D.C., to face BIG EAST-rival Georgetown on May 2 in STJ's last two games of the regular season. The doubleheader begins at noon at Guy Mason Field.
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.
