St. John’s Wins a Pair in Home Opener

Saturday, March 4

Queens, N.Y. (Red Storm Field)

9:30 a.m.

St. John's University

5-10

Drexel

1-10

Drexel

St. John's

3/4/2023 4:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Quinnipiac Box Score (PDF)Drexel Box Score (PDF)

The Red Storm knocked off Drexel, 4-0 before cruising past Quinnipiac, 9-1 in five innings

By: Andrew Loewe

QUEENS, N.Y. (March 4, 2023) – The St. John's softball team opened the Red Storm Classic with a pair of wins against Drexel and Quinnipiac on Saturday at Red Storm Field.

The Red Storm won its home opener against Drexel, 4-0 in the first game of the Red Storm Classic. In the second game of the day, The Johnnies cruised by Quinnipiac in the second game of the day with a 9-1 rout in five innings.

Freshman Jess Bianco extended her team-high hit streak to seven games, notching a trio of hits in both games.

In game two, Anese Thompson became third Johnnies this season to register a five-RBI game. Sydney Totarsky notched her second-straight multi-RBI performance driving in three Johnnies against Drexel.

Game 1

Hannah Mearns pitched a gem to pick up her second win of the season improving her record to 2-4. Mearns finished with seven strikeouts allowing just five hits and three walks in her first shutout of the season.

Mearns and Drexel starter Lindsay Nelson opened the game in a pitcher's duel, allowing just three hits combined in the first three frames.

In the fourth inning, the Red Storm broke through to put three runs on the board. With one out, Amy Mallah was hit by a pitch, and Natalie Alheidt reached via a walk. After a wild pitch put the pair in scoring position, Sydney Totarsky laced a single up the middle to plate the first two runners of the game. Totarsky stole second on the next pitch, before Natalie Casto split the gap with an RBI double to give the Red Storm a 3-0 lead after four innings.

Both Mearns and Nelson continued by firing scoreless frames until the Red Storm sixth inning. With runners at the corners and two outs, Totarsky earned her third RBI of the game driving in Alheidt to add an insurance run for the Red Storm.

Mearns shut the door in the top half of the seventh forcing a strikeout and a fielder's choice to clinch the 4-0 Red Storm victory.

Game 2

Carolina Zamudio notched her fourth win and fourth complete game on the season allowing just five hits while striking out a pair and walking none.

The Red Storm did not waste any time in game two, putting four runs on the board in the first inning. After back-to-back singles by London Jarrard and Katie Whittaker, Jarrard stole home to score the first run of the game for the Johnnies. After a Sabrina Seaton walk, back-to-back doubles by Anese Thompson and Cassidy Stouffer extended the Red Storm lead to 4-0.

After a scoreless second inning, the Bobcats linked together three singles in the third frame to cut the deficit to 4-1. With runners at the corners and one out, Zamudio retired the next two Quinnipiac hitters to shut the door.

In the bottom of the third a hit by pitch and a pair of singles loaded the bases for the Red Storm. Thompson earned her third RBI of the day, plating Katie Whittaker on a sac fly to right. The Bobcats minimized the damage in the frame only allowing one run to score.

For the second time in the game the Red Storm put up a four-spot in the inning. Stepping up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out, Peyton Cody drew a walk to bring in the first running of the inning. On the walk, Jarrard never slowed up when going from second to third and kept the jets on scoring without even drawing a throw. Thompson collected her fourth and fifth RBI of the game on a two-RBI single to right.

Zamudio only allowed one base runner in the final two innings, to clinch the victory for the Red Storm, 9-1 in five innings.

St. John's will be back in action tomorrow in the second day of the Red Storm Classic. The Johnnies will take on Drexel at 9:30 a.m., and Quinnipiac at 2:30 p.m. Both games will be streamed on ESPN3.