Softball Loses Twice to St. John's
4/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 21, 2003
FAIRFIELD, CT - Sophomore Jillian Sandoval (Orange, CA) ripped a two-run double to centerfield in the second game of a doubleheader to help St. John's University complete a sweep of host Sacred Heart University on Monday afternoon. The Red Storm won the first game 6-0 on a one-hitter from senior Courtney Fitzgerald (Bellrose, NY).
St. John's, now 24-22, got the only runs Fitzgerald would need in the opener with three in the first inning. Freshman Megan Oliver (Endicott, NY) led off the game with a single, and went to second on a bunt single by Jessica Shepherd (Akron, OH). After a strikeout, sophomore Allina Sainz walked to load the bases with one out. SHU starter Chrissy DeMott (Levittown, NY) struck out Sandoval, but freshman Jo Sherlock (San Diego, CA) followed with a base-clearing double over the center fielder's head.
Fitzgerald set the Pioneers down in order in the first four innings. Leslie Konsig led off the fifth with a single, but was quickly erased on a double play grounder to Shepherd at short. Only one other runner would reach base for the Pioneers the rest of the way, Katie Ross on a one-out walk in the seventh.
Sacred Heart, 10-27, broke the ice first in the second game with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Jen Place (Latham, NY) led off the inning with a single but was erased on a fielder's choice grounder by Konsig. She would come around to score on an RBI single by Erin Caveney (Spofford, NH).
The Red Storm finally got to SHU starter Michele Walker (Paramus, NJ) in the sixth. Oliver led off with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Shepherd. The next batter flied out to right, but Sainz walked to put two on with two outs. Sandoval then hit a 1-1 pitch for what would be the game-winning hit.
Freshman Melanie Lehman (Placerville, CA) picked up her first win of the season on the mound, striking out five and walking two while improving to 1-5. Walker took the loss, despite giving up just three hits, and fell to 7-16.
