St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
South Alabama
Red Storm Edged By South Alabama, 7-6
2/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 26, 2010
ATHENS, Ga. - Chrissy Montez clubbed her first career home run to spark a four-run fifth inning for St. John's, but the Red Storm came up just short, falling 7-6 to South Alabama on Friday at the Seventh Annual Georgia Softball Classic in Athens, Ga.
St. John's (4-2) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Stacia Dopudja clubbed a two-out double to drive in Kacee Cox from first base.
South Alabama (5-5) answered with three runs off of STJ starter Kat Lawrence in the bottom of the second inning to pull ahead, 3-1.
After Montez pulled the Red Storm to within 3-2 with a third-inning RBI single that drove in Chelsea Durning, the freshman shortstop came up big again in the fifth. With Meghan Gwynn pinch running for Dopudja at first base, Montez blasted a two-run home run to left to give St. John's a 4-3 advantage. Julia Sanchez gave STJ a 5-3 lead, hitting a two-out single to left field that plated Kristi Cady from second base. Dominique Marcelino plated the Red Storm's sixth run on a throwing error by USA's pitcher.
Linzee Sumrall entered the game to relieve Lawrence in the bottom of the fifth with no outs and the bases loaded. After Sumrall induced a fielder's choice to get the first out, South Alabama catcher Marissa Boyd drove in three runs on a double to right center to tie the game at 6-6. Boyd scored the Jaguars' winning run when Meghan Collins doubled in the next at-bat.
Seven STJ batters registered a hit in the game. Montez finished the game 2-of-4 with three RBI and one run scored. Cady went 2-of-4 with one run scored and one steal. Sanchez finished 2-of-3 with one RBI.
Lawrence (3-0) tossed four innings with six strikeouts. She was credited with six earned runs. Sumrall (1-2) was tagged with the loss after two innings of work in which she fanned three batters and allowed one earned run.
South Alabama's Beth Pilgrim was credited with the win.
At 4-2, St. John's is tied for the best start through six games in program history. STJ has started a season 4-2 seven times with the last time coming in 2004.
On Saturday, St. John's will take on Iowa State at 12:15 p.m. and No. 6/8 Georgia at 4:45 p.m. STJ faces Charleston Southern at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday.
Live stats will be available for free for all three games at georgiadogs.com. Live audio will be available for the St. John's game against tournament host Georgia free of charge at georgiadogs.com.
