St. John's University Athletics
Katie Whittaker Named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
2/13/2023 4:09:00 PM | Softball
The freshman hit two homers and 5 RBIs against Southern
QUEENS, N.Y. (Feb. 12, 2023) – St. John's softball team freshman Katie Whittaker broke herself onto the collegiate scene in her first weekend of play, and was honored by the conference on Monday as the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week.
The San Marcos, Calif. native capped the NFCA Leadoff Classic with one of the best performance across all participants, belting a grand slam, and a homer in part of a 3-for-3 and five RBI day against Southern. With the Red Storm leading 1-0, Whittaker crushed a 1-1 pitch over the wall in center to clear the bases. Later in the game, the freshman knocked a solo shot to add to the Red Storm's 7-0 lead. She accounted for five of the eight runs in the game
Whittaker hit .800 with four hits in her first weekend as a Johnnie. She tallied a total of 10 total bases and three runs. She hit an impressive 2.000 slugging percentage and a 2.875 On Base Plus Slugging Percentage. The freshman started twice behind the dish and entered the lineup as a pinch hitter in one game as well.
The freshman is the second Johnnie to win freshman of the week since its inception in 2021, when London Jarrard was tabbed the recipient early in the season. Graduate student Peyton Cody was the last Red Storm hitter to hit a grand slam, a grand slam as a freshman, and two home runs in a game, all of which occurred in 2019.
St. John's will travel to the University of Georgia for a five game stretch. The Red Storm will open against Charlotte at 10:30 a.m. on Friday morning and will also compete against No. 15 Georgia and No.17 Stanford later in the weekend.
The San Marcos, Calif. native capped the NFCA Leadoff Classic with one of the best performance across all participants, belting a grand slam, and a homer in part of a 3-for-3 and five RBI day against Southern. With the Red Storm leading 1-0, Whittaker crushed a 1-1 pitch over the wall in center to clear the bases. Later in the game, the freshman knocked a solo shot to add to the Red Storm's 7-0 lead. She accounted for five of the eight runs in the game
Whittaker hit .800 with four hits in her first weekend as a Johnnie. She tallied a total of 10 total bases and three runs. She hit an impressive 2.000 slugging percentage and a 2.875 On Base Plus Slugging Percentage. The freshman started twice behind the dish and entered the lineup as a pinch hitter in one game as well.
The freshman is the second Johnnie to win freshman of the week since its inception in 2021, when London Jarrard was tabbed the recipient early in the season. Graduate student Peyton Cody was the last Red Storm hitter to hit a grand slam, a grand slam as a freshman, and two home runs in a game, all of which occurred in 2019.
St. John's will travel to the University of Georgia for a five game stretch. The Red Storm will open against Charlotte at 10:30 a.m. on Friday morning and will also compete against No. 15 Georgia and No.17 Stanford later in the weekend.
Players Mentioned
St. John's Softball vs Wagner Highlights 4.29.2026
Wednesday, April 29
St. John's Softball vs Seton Hall Highlights 4.26.2026
Sunday, April 26
St. John's Softball vs Iona Highlights 4.22.26
Wednesday, April 22
St. John's vs Manhattan Softball Highlights 4.15.2026
Wednesday, April 15