St. John’s Wins BIG EAST Series Against Creighton

Saturday, April 2

Queens, N.Y. (Red Storm Field)

12 p.m.

St. John's University

7-24, 2-9

Creighton

14-13, 4-5

Creighton

SJU

St. John’s Wins BIG EAST Series Against Creighton

4/2/2022 7:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (Game One)Box Score (Game Two)

Red Storm sweeps Saturday doubleheader

QUEENS, N.Y. (April 2, 2022) – St. John's softball won its first BIG EAST series on Saturday afternoon, picking up a 9-8 walk-off win to start the day before topping Creighton 3-1.

Game One

A seventh-inning surge powered St. John's (8-24, 3-9 BIG EAST) to a 9-8 walk-off victory against Creighton (14-14, 2-6 BIG EAST) in the first half of Saturday's twin bill at Red Storm Field.

London Jarrard went a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate, bringing in three runs in her sixth multi-hit game of the season. Meisha Murray recorded two hits for her fifth multi-hit game of the season while Amy Mallah extended her hitting streak to three games. Camryn Steele and Anna Freveletti each notched one hit and one RBI.

Carolina Zamudio earned the win after fanning four batters in 2.0 innings of one-run work while starter Angela Saric pitched 5.0 innings and tallied four punch-outs.

Mikayla Santa Cruz moved to 5-7 for the visiting Bluejays as she pitched a complete game and recorded five strikeouts.

Kiara Mills smacked a three-run homer for Creighton in the top of the first, putting the Johnnies behind from the jump. After Murray singled and stole second, Mallah singled to put runners on the corners with Madison Wallace at the plate. Wallace walked to load the bases before Jarrard put the Red Storm on the board with an RBI single. Mallah then scored on a wild pitch and a Natalie Casto sacrifice bunt brought Wallace home, tying the game at three runs apiece.

A scoreless second inning followed before Jarrard doubled to left center in the bottom of the third. The freshman stole third and a Casto walk and stolen base put both runners in scoring position. Thompson put the ball in play, breaking up the stalemate and giving the Johnnies a one-run lead. Alheidt then grounded out to short stop to plate Casto and give St. John's the 5-3 edge.

With nothing going for either side in the fourth, a St. John's error brought in a run for the opposition, cutting the Red Storm lead to a run. Sam Alm doubled to left field to start the sixth, prompting a pitching change by the Johnnies. Alm advanced on a wild pitch by Hannah Mearns. The Sophomore walked the next two she faced and hit the following batter to tie the game once more. Making another change in the circle, Zamudio logged a strike out before allowing a Creighton to take an 8-5 lead with a pair of doubles.

Down to their final three outs, the Johnnies wasted no time as a single, a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases with Jarrard at the plate. The freshman then singled to centerfield, scoring Murray and Mallah. Casto walked, loading the bases once more before Creighton's Santa Cruz then walked in the tying run. It was Freveletti that came through for the Johnnies as the Senior's RBI single scored the game-winning run to give the Red Storm the 9-8 victory.

Game Two

Holding all the momentum, St. John's continued its winning ways with a 3-1 triumph over Creighton in the series finale.

Jarrard went 2-for-3 with two runs and her ninth double of the season while Thompson and Casto each recorded a hit and an RBI. Murray added a run and two stolen bases.

Zamudio and Creighton's Kate Mullally each pitched a complete game with the Red Storm pitcher coming away with the victory. The Mexico City native pitched a complete game, allowing one run on seven hits and striking out seven. Mullally moved to 4-3 with the loss as the Creighton ace allowed three runs on four hits while fanning eight.

Despite an offensive explosion in the earlier day, it was the pitchers in control in the latter half of the twin bill with neither team scoring through the first three innings. Creighton went scoreless in the top of the frame before the Johnnies' bats came alive in the fourth. Down to the final out of the inning, Jarrard went to work with a single and a stolen base. Casto brought the freshman home with a single of her own to put the Red Storm ahead.

Wilson singled to start a rally in the sixth inning for the Bluejays. A double for the opposition notched a run for Creighton, tying the game a one run apiece.

In the home half of the inning started off with Murray, reaching on an error before stealing second and third. The centerfielder came home on an error by the catcher, giving the Red Storm the 2-1 edge. With two away, Jarrard doubled to right field before Casto walked to put Thompson at the plate. The freshman then doubled to left field to extend the 3-1 advantage.

In the top of the seventh, Creighton rallied with the two on and nobody out. However, Zamudio battled and retired the next three batters, including a strikeout to seal the Johnnie win.

St. John's will resume play on Tuesday when the team travels to Stony Brook. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.