The St. John’s Softball team opened the 2011 season in Tallahasse, Fla. this past weekend, as the Red Storm
competed in the Seminole Kickoff Classic, taking on the likes of Florida State, Hofstra, and UNC-Greensboro.
After playing six games in three days, the Red Storm left the Sunshine State with a record of 2-3, winning the first and last games of the Classic. On Friday, Feb. 11 St. John’s opened up against No. 23 Florida State.
The Seminoles proved to be a great test for a season opener, but the well prepared Red Storm opened the year with an 11-5 win.
Senior pitcher Kat Lawrence went the distance in game number one, pitching seven innings and surrendering four earned runs on ten hits.
The bats left right where they left in 2010, combining to score 11 runs on 14 hits, with senior Chelsea Durning and junior Meghan Gwynn leading the way. Durning, the team’s right fielder and leadoff hitter, drove in three runs, while Gwynn went 3-for-4 and drove in two.
After the opening win, St. John’s lost the next three games and was outscored 26-4 during that stretch.
Luckily, Head Coach Amy Kvilhaug had her team ready for the road trip’s final game. Her team combined to score 13 runs in a 13-7 victory in the consolation game against UNC-Greensboro.
Six players contributed with at least one RBI and nine different St. John’s
hitters crossed the plate for a run scored in the win.
Sophomore shortstop Chrissy Montez was responsible for the most damage, going 3-for-5 with four RBI and a stolen base. Her first three at-bats came with the bases loaded.
“I just really tried staying focused the entire time,” Montez said. “I went up there with a different mentality today because lately I haven’t been staying as focused as I think I should be. I went up there thinking I just need to focus on one pitch at a time.”
Sophomore second baseman Amber Curry went 2-for-4 with three RBI’s and added two stolen bases. Durning went 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. The California native also walked twice, tying Roxy Struble for the program’s career walks record.
The Red Storm will continue their season on Feb. 18 when they take on Kent State in the Pirate Classic
in Greenville, N.C. Other opponents include East Carolina and Virginia.
