St. John's University Athletics
St. John's University
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Takes Two From St. John's In Doubleheader
4/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 21, 2011
Box Scores: Game 1| Game 2
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Game 1
QUEENS, N.Y. - The St. John's softball team fell in two games against Pittsburgh on Thursday to open the teams' three-game, Easter weekend series at Red Storm Field.
The Red Strom (19-26, 6-9 BIG EAST) rallied back from a 6-0 hole in the first game with two runs in the fourth inning and three in the sixth, but the Panthers (27-14, 7-6 BIG EAST) held on for a 6-5 win. In the second game, Pittsburgh poured on seven runs in the sixth to win, 8-1.
GAME 1: PITTSBURGH 6, ST. JOHN'S 5
Pittsburgh jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Reba Tutt opened the day with a leadoff triple to right field off St. John's starter Ashley Beza. Two batters later, Holly Stevens singled to center field on an 0-2 count to plate Tutt from third base.
The Panthers' lead grew to 4-0 in the third when Kelly Hmiel hit a three-run home run to left center, plating Ashley Amistade and Stevens.
Pitt added two more runs in the top of the fourth to build a 6-0 advantage. With one out and runners on first and second, Stevens singled and advanced on the throw to drive in Jessica Rhodunda. After first baseman Myriah Rodgers entered the circle, trading positions with Beza, Hmiel grounded out to second and drove in Ashley Amistade.
Fachon Jones' first-inning double down the left field line off Pitt starter Cory Berliner was St. John's only hit through the first three frames, but the Red Storm offense woke up in the third inning. After Amber Curry hit a one-out single up the middle, Kristi Cady knocked an RBI triple to the wall in left field to produce St. John's first run of the game. Chrissy Montez connected for a double to left to plate Cady and bring the Red Storm to within 6-2.
St. John's scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull within 6-5. At the start of the half inning Cady and Montez reached base on back-to-back errors by at third and short, respectively. Rodgers followed with a single down the left field line to load the bases with no outs. Michelle Tilson had an RBI groundout to second to bring in Cady and Dominique Marcelino ripped an RBI single to short to plate Montez. Three batters later, Jones singled down the left field line to score Rodgers from third base as the Red Storm climbed to within just one run.
The Red Storm defense made some key plays to prevent more Pitt runs from scoring in the top of the seventh. With no outs and the bases loaded, Curry gunned out Niki Cognigni from short for the force out at home plate. Tutt lined into a double play when she ripped a ball to the right side where Montez made the catch and doubled up Amanda Heitmeier at first.
In the bottom of the seventh, Montez hit a one-out double to right center to give STJ the tying run in scoring position. However, Berliner settled in and recorded a looking strikeout and a groundout to short to earn the win.
Montez went 2-of-4 with two doubles, one RBI and one run scored. Jones was also 2-of-4 with one double and one RBI. Cady had an RBI triple and one run. Tilson and Marcelino eacn had RBI singles in the game.
Beza fell to 4-9 with the loss after she tossed 3.1 frames, struck out four and allowed six earned runs. Rodgers tossed 3.2 innings of relief and allowed no earned runs.
Berliner improved to 9-6 with the win after throwing a nine-hit complete game with five runs (two earned) allowed.
GAME 2: PITTSBURGH 8, ST. JOHN'S 1
Pittsburgh and St. John's traded two scoreless innings to start the second game. In the top of the second, Myriah Rodgers and Amber Curry turned a slick double play on a lineout to first and a throw to second to catch Krista Rodgers, who did not tag up.
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Kelly Hmiel hit a one out sac fly to left field off Red Storm starter Kat Lawrence, plating Reba Tutt from third base.
St. John's evened the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth. Curry opened the half frame with a double to left center off a full count from Pitt starter Alyssa O'Connell. Three batters later, Rodgers' single to short advanced Curry to third and set up Michelle Tilson's RBI single to left field.
Pittsburgh's big, seven-run sixth was the difference in the game. With one out, Keli Gaynor scored back-to-back runs on a pair of wild pitches by Lawrence, giving Pitt a 3-1 lead. After two walks and a passed ball put runners on second and third, Tutt hit a two RBI double to left field. Four batters later, with two outs and runners on second and third again, Gaynor reached on a throwing error from the circle to first base as Tutt and Ashley Amistade crossed the plate for a pair of unearned runs, extending Pitt's lead to 7-1. Holly Stevens scored on another wild pitch to give the Panthers an 8-1 advantage.
Curry went 2-of-3 with on double and one run scored. Tilson was 1-of-3 with one RBI.
Lawrence fell to 5-7 with the loss. She struck out seven over six frames and allowed four earned runs. Linzee Sumrall tossed a scoreless seventh for St. John's.
O'Connell improved to 11-3 after allowing just one earned run over seven frames.
After observing Good Friday, St. John's and Pittsburgh will close out their three-game series with a single game on Saturday starting at 11 a.m.
