St. John’s Takes Down UConn, 5-1

Saturday, April 6

Queens, N.Y. (Red Storm Field)

1 p.m.

St. John's University

21-16, 0

UConn

19-18, 0

UConn

St. John's

4/6/2024 5:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Red Storm defeated the Huskies for the second consecutive day to extend its win streak to six games

QUEENS, N.Y.– The St. John's softball team (21-16, 10-4) took down UConn, 5-1, for the second consecutive day at Red Storm Field on Saturday.

The series-clinching win marked St. John's first series victory over the Huskies (19-18, 7-4) since taking both games of a two-game set back in 2012.

Ana Serafinko helped lead the Red Storm offense, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs. The two-way standout also pitched two innings of relief, allowing no runs or hits while punching out five batters.

Starter Loreley Francia earned her team-high ninth win inside of the circle. The Spring, Texas product allowed just one earned run on three hits while striking out six in five innings of work. Francia eclipsed the 100-strikeout mark for the season in the second inning of the contest.

Jess Bianco was a spark for St. John's at the top of the lineup, reaching base in all four at-bats with two singles and a pair of walks. The centerfielder came around to score twice and swiped two bags to bring her team-leading totals to 30 runs scored and 22 stolen bases on the season.

First baseman Melanie Santos supplied a two-RBI single during the second inning to round out the scoring for the Johnnies. The junior has now complied nine RBIs this year.

Much like yesterday's contest, the Red Storm did not wait long to put runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Bianco led off the game by drawing a four-pitch walk ahead of swiping second. London Jarrard then grounded a base hit back up the middle to put runners on the corners with no outs. An out later, Serafinko ripped a two-RBI double down the right-field line giving St. John's the 2-0 advantage after the first.

A walk and a hit-by-pitch gave UConn a chance to respond in the top of the second. However, Francia battled back to catch Kaitlyn Kibling looking at a called third strike, recording her 100^th punchout of the season and getting herself out of the jam, 2-0.

Bianco once again sparked the Red Storm offense in the bottom half of the second, laying down a perfect bunt single to third. The junior then swiped her second bag in as many innings before Jarrard drew a walk to put two on with one out. Following the second out of the frame, Serafinko hit a groundball to second where a UConn miscue allowed Bianco to score, 3-0, and for the inning to continue. Celia Macari then walked to load the bases ahead of Santos slapping a two-RBI single into right-center to provide the Johnnies with a 5-0 lead.

Francia continued to roll inside the circle, not allowing a hit until the top of the fourth when Giuliana Abrucasto hit a two-out double into left field. The sophomore then showed composure, striking out the final batter to keep the score at 5-0 after four.

The Johnnies witnessed an opportunity to score in the home half of the fourth when Serafinko crushed her second two-bagger of the contest into the right-center gap with one out. UConn's Hope Jenkins navigated her way out of the jam, recording the last two outs, 5-0.

After a scoreless fifth, the Huskies cracked the scoreboard in the top of the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Jenkins and Jana Sanden, 5-1. Serafinko then entered the circle in relief of Francia. The left-hander issued a walk to put two on before striking out the side and preserving the 5-1 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Serafinko struck out another pair on her way to securing the 5-1 victory for the Johnnies.

St. John's will wrap up its three-game series against UConn tomorrow at noon from Red Storm Field.