Published: April 01, 2007
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John’s softball team
split a pair of games against Providence in continued BIG EAST
action at Red Storm Field. The Red Storm lost a hard-fought 15-10
decision in game one but bounced back to take game two by a final
score of 5-4.
Game One:
Coming off its first BIG EAST win of the season on Saturday,
the Red Storm jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning against
Providence. Seniors Tami Hill and
Loren Anguiano led off the first
inning with back-to-back hits. Anguiano fired her fourth double
over the last three games to put runners on second and third. Roxann Struble loaded the bases with a
walk in her first at bat of the day. The Red Storm took a 2-0 lead
when Spring Montgomery singled deep
to center field. Rookie Shauntaine
Harris drove in one more run in the side with a single into
gap in right field.
The Red Storm continued to add to its lead as Struble recorded
her 15th RBI of the season with a single to left field in the
second. Struble was the last hitter Providence’s starting pitcher
Danielle Bartolette would see as she was replaced Alisha Levin. Red
Storm shortstop Danielle Estrada notched her first hit of the day
off Levin with a two RBI single to center field, putting St. John’s
up 6-0.
Providence’s Gina Rossi scored the Friar’s first run of the day
with a solo home run in the fourth inning. Rachel Bartholomew also
had a solo home run for Providence.
St. John’s continued to swing the bats, as Bionka King, Ona
Halladay and Hill had consecutive hits in the bottom of the
fifth inning. King and Hill each had an RBI double in the side as
the Red Storm took a six run lead. Anguiano added another run to
the board with a sacrifice fly that brought home Halladay.
Providence used a five run sixth inning to battle back and come
within two runs of the Red Storm. The Friars continued its late
rally, posting eight more runs over the final two innings of play.
Providence tied up the game at 10-10 in the top of the seventh and
went on to win the game with a two-run homer from Samantha Pittman.
The final score of game one was 15-10 in eight innings.
Danielle Estrada tried to spark
the offense in the bottom of the eighth inning, firing a triple to
right center field but the Red Storm was unable to bring any runs
across the plate.
Game Two:
The heart of the lineup was right back at work in game two as
Anguiano, Struble and Reyes singled consecutively. Reyes knocked
the ball deep into center field, allowing Anguaino to score from
second base and giving St. John’s another early lead, 1-0. With two
outs recorded in the side, King’s single through the left side
drove in both Anguiano and Estrada.
Estrada posted the Red Storm’s fourth run of the game on a Friar
error at first base in the third.
Providence broke through with its first run of the game in the
fourth inning. Christy Becker doubled to center field, plating Mary
Rose Sheehy. The Friars continued to come through with timely hits,
tying the game at 4-4 in the frame.
The two teams kept it tied up for another two innings, until
Struble came through with another RBI single for the Red Storm. She
drove in Anguiano with a hard-hit single to right center field,
giving St. John’s a 5-4 lead.
Junior Lisa Geer picked up her
fourth win of the season and second consecutive BIG EAST victory.
She struck out a season-high nine batters and allowed only two
earned runs.
Overall, Struble was 5-for-6 against the Friars with two RBI,
three runs and a double. Anguiano went 3-for-7 at the plate with
four runs and one RBI.