After scoring just two runs on six hits while getting swept by Seton Hall in a doubleheader on Saturday, the St. John’s softball team needed offense any way they could get it.
They got it to the tune of 10 hits and four runs to help junior pitcher Kat
Lawrence win her eighth game of the
season in a 4-0 shutout.
Suffering from a five-game losing streak after starting 2-0 in conference play, the team’s outlook on Sunday was just to have fun.
“We came out with a goal of
having fun today and playing like we know how,” said Lawrence. “It was great to see some freshman step up and have a great time on the field today.”
The Red Storm got things started in the first inning offensively as junior left fielder Chelsea Durning led off with a walk and advanced to second on a
fielder’s choice by freshman second
baseman Amber Curry. Durning scored on the next play when junior catcher
Kacee Cox doubled down the right
field line.
Durning started things off in the third inning as well with a double. Curry then blasted a 1-2 pitch over
the center field wall for her third home
run of the season. The team added
another run in the inning on an RBI
single by senior designated hitter
Shauntaine Harris.
The four runs were more than enough for Lawrence. After junior starter Linzee Sumrall walked three in the first 1 1/3
innings, Head Coach Amy Kvilhaug
called on Lawrence to get out of a jam.
She came in with two on and one out
in the second inning and silenced the
Pirates’ bats. She got out of the second unscathed and allowed only three hits
and no runs in 5 2/3 innings.
“I’m always ready to go in,” said Lawrence.
“Linzee and I have a partnership that we work together and we always have each other’s back. We’re
always warm and always ready to go.”
Seton Hall 4, St. John’s 0
Seton Hall pitcher Ashley Forsyth struck out five and gave up only two hits to shut out the Red Storm, 4-0 in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
Sumrall took the loss for St. John’s, pitching a complete game while giving up four runs on eight hits.
Seton Hall struck first with two runs in the third inning. Third baseman Laura Canulli started things off with a single through the left side. Two batters later, right fielder Jamie Gates doubled. Sumrall then hit Nalin Bennett to load the bases and Nicole Lowenstein drove in two with a double down the left field line.
Montez and Curry recorded the only two hits for the Red Storm in the Pirates first win in Big East play.
Seton Hall 3, St. John’s 2
In the second game of their Saturday doubleheader against Seton Hall, the
Red Storm rallied late but fell short 3-2.
After falling behind 3-0 and being shut out on three hits for the first five
innings, the Red Storm showed signs of
life in the sixth inning, aided by two
errors by Seton Hall. Durning singled to lead off the inning and an error by Seton Hall pitcher Danielle Zanzalari on a bunt
attempt by Curry put her on third. After Curry stole second, both of them scored three batters later when sophomore
center fielder Kristi Cady reached on an error by Seton Hall second baseman
Brittany Schillizzi.
St. John’s threatened to tie or win the game in the bottom of the seventh when Seton Hall pitcher Katie Stillwell walked the first two batters, but the Pirates turned to Forsyth, who closed out the game with a strikeout and double play.