St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Providence
St. John's Falls To Providence, 9-2
4/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 10, 2011
QUEENS, N.Y. - Amber Curry went 3-of-4 with one RBI and Kristi Cady extended her hitting streak to 11 games, but the St. John's softball team could not overcome an early deficit, falling to Providence, 9-2, on Saturday at Red Storm Field.
After St. John's (16-23, 3-6 BIG EAST) and Providence (17-21, 3-6 BIG EAST) split Saturday's doubleheader, the Friars took the series, 2-1.
Providence jumped out to a 2-0 lead with two outs in the first inning when Justine Stratton hit a two-run home run to center field off St. John's starter Ashley Beza.
St. John's left two runners stranded in the top of the first. Fachon Jones drew a one-out walk on a full count from PC starter Corinne Clauss. two batters later, Cady singled through the right side to extend her hitting streak. Cady advanced to second on a passed ball, but the Red Storm left both runners on base following a 5-3 groundout.
Ava Pandiani opened the top of the fourth with a leadoff homer to center field, pushing the Friars' lead to 3-0. Four batters later, Megan McCann scored on a wild pitch as Michelle Huber drew a five-pitch walk with two outs. In the next at-bat, Huber extended Providence's advantage to 5-0, scoring from third after Stratton reached on an error at third.
The Red Storm got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. Curry started things off with a leadoff single to third base. Myriah Rodgers was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat, giving STJ two runners on base. Two batters later, Michelle Tilson ripped an RBI single down the left field line, plating Curry as St. John's drew to within 5-1.
After Corinne Rubright opened Providence's fifth with a double down the left field line, Kat Lawrence entered the circle in relief of Beza. Lawrence recorded a flyout to center and a pair of swinging strikeouts and stranded two Friars runners.
In the bottom of the fifth, St. John's pulled to within 5-2. With one out and runners on first and second, Curry ripped an RBI single down the left field line, plating Chrissy Montez from second base.
Providence leadoff hitter, Jen Abrams opened the top of the sixth with a homer to left center, extending the Friars lead to 6-2. Two batters later, Stratton hit her second home run of the game, launching a solo shot to left field. Rodgers shifted from first to pitcher to relieve Lawrence after the homer and got out of the inning with a fly out to right and a pop up to second.
The Friars added two more runs in the top of the seventh. Pandiani hit her second lead off homer of the game, knocking a solo shot to left center. After the next two PC batters singled, Linzee Sumrall entered in relief of Rodgers, who shifted back to first, replacing Dominique Marcelino. Abrams hit an RBI single in the following at-bat to plate Kaitlyn Duval for PC's ninth run. The inning ended on a strange double-play with a runner-left-early charge. With the bases loaded and no outs, Stratton hit a flyout to center field. STJ center fielder Cady gunned down Abrams for the tagout at third and McCann was called out after leaving third base early.
The Red Storm had two on in the bottom of the seventh, but could not muster any more runs. After Montez opened the inning with a single to shallow center field, Cady reached on a fielder's choice with Montez out at second. Curry recorded her third hit of the game with a single to left, moving Cady to second. The game ended on a double play as Rodgers flied out to center and Cady was thrown out, trying to get back to second base.
Curry went 3-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Jones finished 2-of-3 after reaching on a pair of infield hits. Chelsea Durning was 2-of-4 at the plate. Tilson finished 1-of-3 with on RBI.
Beza fell to 3-8 after striking out five and allowing four earned runs over four frames. Lawrence fanned three and allowed two earned runs in 1.1 innings of work. Rodgers pitched two-third of an inning and gave up two runs. Sumrall tossed one scoreless relief frame.
Clauss improved to 7-9 after allowing two earned runs over seven innings.
The Red Storm next heads to Brooklyn to take on local rival LIU for a 4 p.m. game on Tuesday. St. John's returns to Red Storm Field on Wednesday when it hosts Villanova for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
