St. John's University Athletics
Friday, February 14
Tampa, Fla. (USF Softball Stadium)
9 a.m.
St. John's University
vs
Penn State
St. John’s Heads to Florida for The Fonseca Memorial Tournament at USF
2/12/2025 3:32:00 PM | Softball
The Red Storm will play five games during the second weekend of the season
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's softball team will head to Tampa, Fla., this weekend to continue the 2025 season at The Fonseca Memorial Tournament at USF on Feb. 14-16
The Johnnies will open the tournament on Friday by taking on Penn State at 9 a.m. before battling Loyola-Chicago at 11:30 a.m. On Saturday, the Red Storm will face host USF at 11:35 a.m. The day's second contest and Sunday's game will be determined based on the results of the first three matchups.
St. John's game with USF will be streamed on ESPN+ along with any other contests against the Bulls during the weekend. Live Stats for all games will be provided on RedStormSports.com.
The Red Storm enter the weekend with a 1-3-1 record following its trip to Texas to open the 2025 campaign. St. John's started the season by shutting out Houston Christian, 5-0, before falling to Houston, No. 1/1 Texas and Lamar. The Johnnies ended their trip to the Lone Star State by tying New Mexico, 2-2, due to a cut-off time.
The St. John's offense kicked off the 2025 season by recording double-digit hits in three of its first five contests, including 10 extra-base hits (eight doubles and two home runs). Elanna Lysiak cranked the Red Storm's first home run of the season with a solo shot at Houston Christian. Senior Anese Thompson knotted the New Mexico game with a two-run blast to center field and tallied two doubles over the opening weekend.
Inside the circle, Loreley Francia impressively started the year by making an appearance in each of the five contests, holding a 1.84 ERA through 19 innings pitched and recording 22 strikeouts. The Spring, Texas product helped lead the Red Storm to its first victory of the season against Houston Christian by only giving up one hit in five shutout innings while punching out six Huskies.
Junior Jess Bianco notched her 100th career hit in the final game of the opening weekend with an infield single to third against New Mexico. Bianco joined London Jarrard as the second player on the active roster to reach the career milestone. Over the first five games of the season, the centerfielder tallied five hits, including her second career double.
Second baseman Natalie Casto and freshman Madison Konopka lead the St. John's lineup with six hits apiece. Casto set a new career-high with three hits in the opening game against the Huskies, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Konopka made an instant impact for St. John's, batting .353 through her first five career games, which included a three-hit performance at Lamar.
St. John's will first take on Penn State, who enter the weekend after going 1-4 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla., taking down Kennesaw State, 9-1. Sophomore Brooke Klosowicz paced the Penn State lineup in the opening weekend, batting .429 with one home run and four RBIs.
The Red Storm and Nittany Lions will meet for the first time in over 20 years and for just the third time ever this weekend. Penn State has won each of the previous two meetings with the last matchup coming at the Seminole Challenge on March 6, 2004, when the Nittany Lions won 5-2.
Following their matchup with Penn State, the Johnnies will battle Loyola-Chicago. The Ramblers started 2025 by recording a 1-4 record at the UNI Dome Tournament, generating a win against North Dakota. Senior pitcher Andie Broniewicz helped lead the Ramblers to their lone victory, tossing six innings while punching out eight batters.
St. John's and Loyola-Chicago will meet for the first time ever this weekend at the USF Softball Stadium.
The Johnnies will open play on Saturday by battling host school USF. The Bulls tallied a 3-2 mark at the USF-Rawlings Invitational, picking up wins against Delaware, Illinois State and Georgia Southern. Catcher Josie Foreman leads the USF offense to start the season, going 6-for-9 (.667) with a double and three RBIs in four starts.
The Red Storm and Bulls will meet for the 25th time in the two program's histories this weekend. The two schools met annually when USF was a member of the BIG EAST conference from 2006 to 2013. The Bulls command the all-time series, winning 23 of the previous 24 matchups.
Following its time in the Sunshine State, St. John's will look ahead to Winthrop's Garnet and Gold Tournament in Rock Hill, S.C., on Feb. 21-23.
The Johnnies will open the tournament on Friday by taking on Penn State at 9 a.m. before battling Loyola-Chicago at 11:30 a.m. On Saturday, the Red Storm will face host USF at 11:35 a.m. The day's second contest and Sunday's game will be determined based on the results of the first three matchups.
St. John's game with USF will be streamed on ESPN+ along with any other contests against the Bulls during the weekend. Live Stats for all games will be provided on RedStormSports.com.
The Red Storm enter the weekend with a 1-3-1 record following its trip to Texas to open the 2025 campaign. St. John's started the season by shutting out Houston Christian, 5-0, before falling to Houston, No. 1/1 Texas and Lamar. The Johnnies ended their trip to the Lone Star State by tying New Mexico, 2-2, due to a cut-off time.
The St. John's offense kicked off the 2025 season by recording double-digit hits in three of its first five contests, including 10 extra-base hits (eight doubles and two home runs). Elanna Lysiak cranked the Red Storm's first home run of the season with a solo shot at Houston Christian. Senior Anese Thompson knotted the New Mexico game with a two-run blast to center field and tallied two doubles over the opening weekend.
Inside the circle, Loreley Francia impressively started the year by making an appearance in each of the five contests, holding a 1.84 ERA through 19 innings pitched and recording 22 strikeouts. The Spring, Texas product helped lead the Red Storm to its first victory of the season against Houston Christian by only giving up one hit in five shutout innings while punching out six Huskies.
Junior Jess Bianco notched her 100th career hit in the final game of the opening weekend with an infield single to third against New Mexico. Bianco joined London Jarrard as the second player on the active roster to reach the career milestone. Over the first five games of the season, the centerfielder tallied five hits, including her second career double.
Second baseman Natalie Casto and freshman Madison Konopka lead the St. John's lineup with six hits apiece. Casto set a new career-high with three hits in the opening game against the Huskies, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Konopka made an instant impact for St. John's, batting .353 through her first five career games, which included a three-hit performance at Lamar.
St. John's will first take on Penn State, who enter the weekend after going 1-4 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla., taking down Kennesaw State, 9-1. Sophomore Brooke Klosowicz paced the Penn State lineup in the opening weekend, batting .429 with one home run and four RBIs.
The Red Storm and Nittany Lions will meet for the first time in over 20 years and for just the third time ever this weekend. Penn State has won each of the previous two meetings with the last matchup coming at the Seminole Challenge on March 6, 2004, when the Nittany Lions won 5-2.
Following their matchup with Penn State, the Johnnies will battle Loyola-Chicago. The Ramblers started 2025 by recording a 1-4 record at the UNI Dome Tournament, generating a win against North Dakota. Senior pitcher Andie Broniewicz helped lead the Ramblers to their lone victory, tossing six innings while punching out eight batters.
St. John's and Loyola-Chicago will meet for the first time ever this weekend at the USF Softball Stadium.
The Johnnies will open play on Saturday by battling host school USF. The Bulls tallied a 3-2 mark at the USF-Rawlings Invitational, picking up wins against Delaware, Illinois State and Georgia Southern. Catcher Josie Foreman leads the USF offense to start the season, going 6-for-9 (.667) with a double and three RBIs in four starts.
The Red Storm and Bulls will meet for the 25th time in the two program's histories this weekend. The two schools met annually when USF was a member of the BIG EAST conference from 2006 to 2013. The Bulls command the all-time series, winning 23 of the previous 24 matchups.
Following its time in the Sunshine State, St. John's will look ahead to Winthrop's Garnet and Gold Tournament in Rock Hill, S.C., on Feb. 21-23.
Players Mentioned
SS/OF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
MIF
/ Softball
3B/OF
/ Softball
C/1B
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