St. John’s Sweeps Doubleheader at Army

Wednesday, May 1

West Point, N.Y. (Army West Point Softball Complex)

3 p.m.

St. John's University

27-25

Army

12-35

St. John's

ARMY

5/1/2024 8:01:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (Game 1)Box Score (Game 2)

The Red Storm took game one, 2-1, before shutting out the Black Knights, 2-0, in the latter contest

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The St. John's softball team (28-25, 13-11) took both games of a doubleheader at Army (12-36, 7-8) on Wednesday. The Red Storm edged the Black Knights in game one, 2-1, before winning in shutout fashion in the latter contest, 2-0.

The Johnnies have now swept consecutive midweek doubleheaders after taking down FDU in a pair of games last Tuesday and are on a three-game winning streak after downing Seton Hall in the series finale on Sunday.

Head Coach Michelle DePolo returned to Army where she coached from 2010 to 2018 for the first time on Wednesday. With the Black Knights, DePolo compiled 280 wins and made an appearance in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. "West Point is a special place that always impresses. I'm glad our team had a chance to experience it as we prepare for the BIG EAST Tournament," DePolo said following the pair of contests.

Game one starter Loreley Francia recorded her team-leading 12^th win in the circle. The sophomore limited Army to just one run on seven hits while striking out seven batters in her 11^th complete game of the year. Francia holds a 2.84 ERA in 128 innings with 140 punchouts in 2024.

Ana Serafinko drew the start in game two and was dominant inside the circle. The left-hander allowed just two hits while punching out 10 batters in her sixth shutout win of the year. Serafinko also provided the Red Storm with its only runs in the game, hitting an RBI double and coming around to score herself on an errant throw that went out of play.

In the opening contest, Amy Mallah helped the Johnnies take the lead with an RBI double in the fifth inning. The third baseman has six doubles and has now recorded four RBIs in the last four games, raising her total to 12 in 2024.

Anese Thompson followed up Mallah's two-bagger with an RBI double of her own in the fifth, providing the Johnnies with the eventual game-deciding run. The junior ranks third on the team with 15 RBIs this year.

Game 1

London Jarrard led off the top of the first by lining a base hit back up the middle. The Black Knights then recorded two outs before Thompson drew a walk to put two runners on, but Army's Amanda Eaglin worked out of the early jam, 0-0.

In the bottom half of the first, Francia kicked it off by striking out the first batter she saw on her way to tossing a scoreless opening frame, 0-0.

Francia and Eaglin then continued their pitching duel, exchanging blank half-innings to keep the game scoreless after three innings of play, 0-0.

St. John's witnessed another scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth after Sydney Totarsky hit an infield single and a pitch plunked Katie Whittaker to put two on with one out. Eaglin once again found her way out of the frame, retiring the next two batters and keeping the contest scoreless, 0-0.

Army's Mia Bonsignore led off the home half of the fourth with a single into right-center. Julia Farris then attempted a sacrifice bunt, but the ball stayed in the air long enough for Mallah to make a full-extension diving grab in front of home plate and then throw from her knees to nab Bonsignore at first. Francia then struck out the third out to keep the run column blank, 0-0.

The Red Storm finally cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fifth behind Jarrard recording her second base hit of the contest. Serafinko then hit into a fielder's choice before coming around to score from first on a Mallah RBI double into the right-center gap, 1-0. A pitch later, Thompson pulled another two-bagger into left-center to plate Mallah and strengthen St. John's advantage, 2-0.

The Black Knights responded with their first run in the home half on an Ashton White RBI single into left field, 2-1. Francia limited the damage, forcing a pop-up to shortstop to strand two runners and hold the Johnnies' one-run lead.

After a scoreless sixth, Francia sat down Army in order, tallying two more punchouts in the bottom of the seventh to seal St. John's 2-1 victory in game one.

Game 2

Serafinko opened game two perfectly, retiring the lineup in order the first time through while punching out four batters to keep the contest scoreless after three, 0-0.

Totarsky singled with one out and then swiped second to provide the Red Storm with a runner-in-scoring position in the top of the fourth. However, Army's Olivia Farris recorded the next two outs to keep the game even, 0-0.

In the home half of the fourth, Serafinko retired the first two batters, bringing her total to 11 straight outs to open the game before White hit a double into center field. Serafinko produced a harmless flyout to get the third out and keep the score at 0-0.

London Slade tallied her second hit of the game with a single into left field to put a runner on with one out in the top of the fifth. Jararrd then bounced into a fielder's choice before Serafinko drilled an RBI double into the right-center gap and an errant throw that trickled out of play allowed her to score as well, 2-0.

Serafinko followed up her big hit by striking out the side in the bottom of the fifth, bringing her total to seven punchouts and holding the Johnnies' 2-0 lead.

The Black Knights saw its best opportunity to score in the bottom of the sixth after a Lauren Little single, a miscue and a walk loaded the bases with two outs. However, Serafinko remained poised in the circle, striking out the final out to keep Army out of the run column, 2-0.

In the bottom of the seventh, Serafinko notched her fifth 1-2-3 inning of the contest, punching out a pair of batters to help St. John's secure the 2-0 win and the doubleheader sweep.

St. John's will now look ahead to the BIG EAST Tournament that is set to start on May 8 in Providence, R.I.