St. John’s Completes Sweep of DePaul Behind Ana Serafinko’s Big Day, 3-0

Saturday, March 30

Chicago, Ill. (Cacciatore Stadium)

1 p.m.

St. John's University

19-16, 0

DePaul

7-23, 0

St. John's

DePaul

St. John’s Completes Sweep of DePaul Behind Ana Serafinko’s Big Day, 3-0

3/30/2024 4:03:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Red Storm shutout a BIG EAST opponent across a three-game series for the first time in program history

CHICAGO – Starting pitcher Ana Serafinko tossed her second shutout win in the Windy City, leading St. John's to a series-sweeping 3-0 victory over DePaul on Saturday.

The Red Storm pitching staff held the Blue Demons scoreless across the entirety of the series, marking the first time in program history that St. John's has shut out a BIG EAST opponent in a three-game set.

St. John's also recorded its fourth consecutive shutout with Saturday's win, signifying the first time since 2004 when the Johnnies shut out Sacred Heart in a doubleheader ahead of blanking Villanova in a two-game series.

The four-game win streak is the team's longest of the season as well.

Serafinko followed up her five-inning no-hitter in the series opener by holding the Blue Demons to just one hit while punching out seven. The Chino Hills, Calif., native now has a 1.88 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 63.1 innings of work this year.

The two-way player also did damage from inside of the batter's box, launching her second home run of the series in the first inning. Searfinko now is tied for second on the team with three longballs while batting .333 with seven RBIs.

Junior London Jarrard hit her team-leading 12^th double and brought home her 36^th RBI of 2024 in the contest. The shortstop currently leads the team, slashing .342/.403/.607.

Jess Bianco, Elanna Lysiak and Sydney Totarsky all tallied hits as well to pace the St. John's lineup.

The Red Storm (19-16, 8-4) cracked the scoreboard first for the third time in the series. After two quick DePaul putouts to open the first, Cassidy Stouffer drew a walk before Serafinko crushed a two-run home run into right-center, claiming the early lead, 2-0.

Serafinko continued her dominance inside the circle, racking up five punchouts through her first three innings of work to hold the Johnnies' 2-0 advantage.

St. John's saw an opportunity to extend its lead in the top of the fourth when Lysiak doubled into centerfield with one out. However, DePaul's Bella Nigey recorded the final two outs to keep the score at 2-0.

DePaul (7-23, 2-7) witnessed its best chance to score in the home half of the fifth inning behind a Lydia Ettema walk with two outs. Morgan Rogers then pinch-ran and swiped second to give the Blue Demons their only runner in scoring position of the day. Serafinko navigated her way out of the jam, producing a groundball back to herself and throwing to first for the third out, 2-0.

In the top of the seventh, the Johnnies added an insurance run to their total. Lysiak kicked off the frame by reaching on an error while Totarsky followed up with a hard single through the left side to put two on with no outs. Bianco then reached on a fielder's choice with Totarsky out at second. After Bianco stole second, Jarrard slapped a double out of the shortstop's reach to bring home Lysiak, 3-0.

Serafinko proved not to need the extra run in the bottom of the seventh, striking out the lead-off batter on her way to retiring the Blue Demons 1-2-3 to secure the 3-0 shutout victory.

St. John's will now head back to Queens for a midweek tilt against Fordham on Wednesday. The first pitch is slated for a 3 p.m. start from Red Storm Field.