St. John's University Athletics
Saturday, April 27
Queens, N.Y.
12:00 p.m.
St. John's University
vs
Villanova
St. John's to Battle Villanova in Final Home Series
4/26/2019 1:33:00 PM | Softball
Live Stats (Game 1)Watch on ESPN3 (Game 1)Live Stats (Game 2)Watch on ESPN3 (Game 2)Live Stats (Game 3)Watch on ESPN3 (Game 3)Game Notes (PDF)
The Johnnies are 9-4 at Red Storm Field this season
QUEENS, N.Y. (April 26, 2019) – The St. John's softball team will battle Villanova in the final home series of the season, beginning on Saturday, April 27, at noon. All three contests this weekend are scheduled for ESPN3 and will have live stats available at RedStormSports.com
Following the final home game on Sunday, the Red Storm will honor its two seniors, Madison Morris and Christina Melendez.
Morris has put forth a stellar effort in her final year, recording six games of 10 or more strikeouts, including a program-tying 15 against Florida Atlantic on February 8. She is eight punchouts away from striking out 400 for her career.
The Hampton, Va., native boasts a 40-20 record with a 3.36 ERA in 421.1 innings of work, holding opposing lineups to just a .241 batting average over her four-year stint. The Johnnies' ace has set the program record in total BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week Awards (6) and most selections in a single season (3).
Pursuing a Bachelor's of Science degree in sociology with a minor in criminal justice, Morris plans to continue her studies at St. John's after receiving the 2019 BIG EAST Institutional Scholar-Athlete Award.
Melendez has had great success over her four years with the Red Storm, posting a combined .315 batting average through 156 appearances. Out of her 148 hits, the Fullerton, Calif., native has recorded 27 doubles and 25 home runs.
The Johnnies' outfielder joined the 100 RBI club earlier this season, knocking a three-run home run in the rubber match against Providence on March 24. She also tied Loren Anguiano's program record of six RBIs in a game when she nearly hit for the cycle against Wagner on March 15.
Melendez is a two-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll selection and was named conference Player of the Week on April 19, 2017.
The Johnnies enter the weekend series with a 23-18 record following a 7-2 loss to Iona on Wednesday and a split doubleheader with DePaul over the weekend.
The Red Storm has won or tied all seven conference matchups since April 22, 2018.
Villanova heads to Queens with a 25-20 record and sits in third in the BIG EAST standings at 7-5. The Wildcats have won five-straight contests, scoring a combined 45 runs over the stretch.
Paige Rauch has been Villanova's best player in every statistical category both offensively and in the circle. She paces the BIG EAST in several batting categories including, batting average (.415), runs scored (39), home runs (13), hits (56), and walks (28).
Rauch is also expected to be a pitching threat this weekend, registering an 11-9 record with 119 strikeouts and a 2.56 ERA. Her opposing batting average (.220) and ERA are ranked second in the conference.
The Wildcats lead the BIG EAST in hits (322), runs scored (230), and RBIs (216) through 45 contests.
First-year head coach and former Wildcat Bridget Orchard joins the BIG EAST rivalry after taking over the program in June 2018 following a 17-year stint at Fordham. She is familiar with the Johnnies, facing the now conference rival 11 times in her career and holding a 7-4 record. However, St. John's has had Orchard's number the past two seasons, posting a pair of wins, including a 14-11 slugfest last year at Red Storm Field.
Saturday's doubleheader promotions are Bark at the Park and 90s Theme Day at Red Storm Field.
Following the final home game on Sunday, the Red Storm will honor its two seniors, Madison Morris and Christina Melendez.
Morris has put forth a stellar effort in her final year, recording six games of 10 or more strikeouts, including a program-tying 15 against Florida Atlantic on February 8. She is eight punchouts away from striking out 400 for her career.
The Hampton, Va., native boasts a 40-20 record with a 3.36 ERA in 421.1 innings of work, holding opposing lineups to just a .241 batting average over her four-year stint. The Johnnies' ace has set the program record in total BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week Awards (6) and most selections in a single season (3).
Pursuing a Bachelor's of Science degree in sociology with a minor in criminal justice, Morris plans to continue her studies at St. John's after receiving the 2019 BIG EAST Institutional Scholar-Athlete Award.
Melendez has had great success over her four years with the Red Storm, posting a combined .315 batting average through 156 appearances. Out of her 148 hits, the Fullerton, Calif., native has recorded 27 doubles and 25 home runs.
The Johnnies' outfielder joined the 100 RBI club earlier this season, knocking a three-run home run in the rubber match against Providence on March 24. She also tied Loren Anguiano's program record of six RBIs in a game when she nearly hit for the cycle against Wagner on March 15.
Melendez is a two-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll selection and was named conference Player of the Week on April 19, 2017.
The Johnnies enter the weekend series with a 23-18 record following a 7-2 loss to Iona on Wednesday and a split doubleheader with DePaul over the weekend.
The Red Storm has won or tied all seven conference matchups since April 22, 2018.
Villanova heads to Queens with a 25-20 record and sits in third in the BIG EAST standings at 7-5. The Wildcats have won five-straight contests, scoring a combined 45 runs over the stretch.
Paige Rauch has been Villanova's best player in every statistical category both offensively and in the circle. She paces the BIG EAST in several batting categories including, batting average (.415), runs scored (39), home runs (13), hits (56), and walks (28).
Rauch is also expected to be a pitching threat this weekend, registering an 11-9 record with 119 strikeouts and a 2.56 ERA. Her opposing batting average (.220) and ERA are ranked second in the conference.
The Wildcats lead the BIG EAST in hits (322), runs scored (230), and RBIs (216) through 45 contests.
First-year head coach and former Wildcat Bridget Orchard joins the BIG EAST rivalry after taking over the program in June 2018 following a 17-year stint at Fordham. She is familiar with the Johnnies, facing the now conference rival 11 times in her career and holding a 7-4 record. However, St. John's has had Orchard's number the past two seasons, posting a pair of wins, including a 14-11 slugfest last year at Red Storm Field.
Saturday's doubleheader promotions are Bark at the Park and 90s Theme Day at Red Storm Field.
Players Mentioned
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