Red Storm Splits Saturday Doubleheader at Creighton

Saturday, April 10

Omaha, NE

1 p.m.

St. John's University

8-11, 5-7

Creighton

10-8, 6-4

St. John's

Creighton

Red Storm Splits Saturday Doubleheader at Creighton

4/10/2021 6:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game One Box Score Game Two Box Score

St. John’s racks up 19 hits, two home runs on the afternoon

By: Kenny Conrade

OMAHA, Neb. – The St. John's softball team split its Saturday doubleheader with Creighton, taking game one, 3-2, before falling in game two, 4-3.

The Red Storm (8-12, 5-8 BIG EAST) compiled 19 hits over the two games, including two home runs while Creighton (11-8, 7-4 BIG EAST) added 17 of their own. The Red Storm led for a majority of game one, but the team's comeback attempt in game two fell short, as it fell on a walkoff home run in the seventh.

Kaitlin Mattera had a big day for the Red Storm, racking up six hits in two games, including a home run and double while Gretchen Bowie also went yard and added two additional hits, all of which game in game two. Kaitlyn Lologo also totaled three hits in the leadoff spot, while Amelia Ditolvo recorded two RBIs on the afternoon.

Mattera was tremendous for the Red Storm in game one, going 3-4 at the plate and adding a double and home run which proved to be the game-winning run. In the circle, Erin Brown (3-5) worked six innings of two-run ball, striking out five and picking up the victory. Kayla Kmett entered and earned the save in the seventh, setting down each batter she faced with the tying run in scoring position.The victory marked number 200 in Head Coach Bob Guerriero's Red Storm career.

In game two, the Red Storm racked up 12 hits, its most in a game this season, as Bowie, Rizzi, Lologo and Melanie Santos each recorded multiple base knocks. Kmett worked two-plus innings and surrendered three runs before Angela Saric (1-1) came in relief to work four scoreless frames before surrendering a walkoff home run in the seventh.

Game One

Brown got the start for the Red Storm in game one and was strong early, as she worked the first two innings without allowing a run and striking out four. While the Johnnies could not break through offensively over the first two frames, they did threaten, sending three runners to scoring position, as Bowie was cut down at home in the first to keep the game scoreless.

The home team would break through in the home half of the third, as an Ashley Cantu double led off the inning and she was singled home to give the Bluejays the lead, 1-0. A double play turned by Kamryn Tiumalu would hold the score right there, as the Red Storm was able to rebound in the fourth.

Rizzi led off the the fourth with a double into left center field and was driven home via a double by Ditolvo. Next up to the plate was Tiumalu, who hit a sacrifice fly to put the Johnnies ahead, 2-1. The Bluejays threatened in the bottom half of the fourth, but Brown recorded a strikeout and groundout with two on to keep the lead intact, 2-1, heading to the fifth.

Mattera led off the fifth with her third hit of game one, a solo home run down the left field line, to put the Red Storm up, 3-1. Brown yet again stranded two on base in the home half of the inning to keep the Red Storm up, 3-1.

Brown would give one back to Creighton in the sixth and the Bluejays led off the seventh with a double from Kailey Wilson, as Guerriero would bring Kmett on to close it out. Facing the top of the Creighton order, the Red Storm senior pitcher recorded an out on a bunt, then worked a groundout and strikeout to seal the save and victory for the Johnnies, 3-2.

Game Two

The Red Storm carried the momentum from its victory in game one into game two, as Lologo led off the game with a single followed by a double from Bowie. Lologo would score on a wild pitch with two outs to give St. John's the lead, 1-0, before Ashley Cantu knotted the game with a solo home run in the bottom half to knot the score at one.

The Johnnies went down scoreless in the second while Creighton grabbed two runs behind two hits and two walks to grab the lead, 3-1. In the road half of the third, it was Mattera who again reached on an infield single and came home to score on an RBI from Ditolvo. Saric relieved Kmett and worked out of trouble in the third, and the score remained 3-2 through four innings.

Bowie led off the fifth frame for the Red Storm to knot the game at three. On the defensive side, Saric worked quickly through the home half of the fifth and sixth innings, holding the score at 3-3 headed to the seventh. Through her first four innings of relief, the Red Storm junior pitcher was strong in the circle, surrendering just two hits and not allowing a run.

The Red Storm would threaten in the top of the seventh, getting runners to first and third, but failing to score. In the home half of the inning, Saric retired the leadoff batter before Kiara Mills delivered a walkoff home run to end it.

St. John's and Creighton will take the field for the rubber match tomorrow at noon E.T. The single game can be streamed via YouTube or followed on live stats.