The St. John’s softball team closed out their weekend in North Carolina in disappointing fashion, falling to Towson 2-1 in the consolation game of the 2007 Baymont Inn & Suites Pirate Classic.

St. John’s came out swinging in the first inning with back-to-back singles by senior Loren Anguiano and junior Spring Montgomery. Sophomore Danielle Estrada then contributed her first RBI of the season, knocking in Anguiano with a single of her own.

The lead was short lived, as Towson immediately answered back in the bottom half of the inning, knotting the score at one.
Kim Lerch registered a strong start, allowing just one earned run over six innings while striking out two Tigers. However, she was done in by a fifth inning error that allowed Towson to score what turned out to be the game winning run.

East Carolina 9, St. John’s 0
In their final game of the Saturday triple-header, the Red Storm was left helpless against the Pirates’ Keri Harrell, who held the Johnnies hitless through six innings. The Pirates raced to a 6-0 lead in the third inning and never looked back.

St. John’s 4, East Carolina 3
Behind Kim Lerch’s strong performance in the circle and Loren Anguiano’s bat, St. John’s won its second game of the season 4-3 in their second game on Saturday. Lerch struck out five Pirates while scattering 10 hits over seven innings.

Anguiano sparked the offense in the second inning when she deposited an offering from Pirates’ pitcher Brook Swan over the fence for a two-run homer. Freshman outfielder Shauntaine Harris contributed an RBI single in the third inning.

Anguiano knocked in her third RBI of the game in the sixth inning, a run that eventually turned out to be the difference in the game after a Pirates rally in the sixth inning fell short.

St. John’s 10, Appalachian State 3
The opening game of the tripleheader saw the Red Storm offense finally wake up from its slumber as the Johnnies scored a season-high 10 runs.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning, St. John’s scored four runs in the second inning with junior Bionka King providing the big blow with a two-run double.

The Johnnies kept rolling in the third inning when Anguiano hit her first two-run homer of the day, giving her team an eight-run lead. Anguiano was joined in the power column by Shauntaine Harris, who hit her first home run of the season.

Lisa Greer earned her first victory of the season, allowing just three unearned runs over seven innings while striking out seven batters.

Towson 7, St. John’s 2
The weekend opened on a sour note Friday night as the team fell against Towson. King was a highlight for the Red Storm, despite the loss, with two hits and an RBI. Senior Tami Hill drove in the other Red Storm run. Kim Lerch started the game but went just two innings giving up four earned runs before being relieved by Greer who went the last four innings.