Seton Hall University
St. John's
Softball Falls in Series Finale at St. John's
4/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 19, 2014
QUEENS, N.Y. - The Seton Hall University softball team saw an early lead slip away in a 5-4 loss at St. John's University on Saturday afternoon. Junior Sara Haefeli (Montclair, N.J.) smacked a three-run homer in the bottom of the second to give the Pirates an early lead but the Red Storm came back to win what turned into a back-and-forth affair, plating the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth.
St. John's starter Tori Free appeared to be on her way to retiring Seton Hall in the second but a couple of mistakes quickly opened the door and Haefeli was able to capitalize.
Designated player Alex Rabbetts (Corona, Calif.) was hit by a pitch with two outs and just a few moments later sophomore Jackie DiPietro (Horsham, Pa.) laid down a bunt that catcher Erin Burner threw errantly into right field, giving the Pirates runners at second and third. Haefeli made the Red Storm pay for prolonging the inning, crushing her third home run of the season over the wall in right field.
St. John's started its comeback in the bottom of the inning, rallying for one run before SHU starter Danielle DeStaso (Congers, N.Y.) closed the door with a big strikeout.
With one out Yvonne Rericha singled through the left side to score Brittany Garcia from second base and another base hit, this time a two-out bunt from Ellen Czuba, loaded the bases. Red Storm home run leader Jackie Reed stepped to the plate looking for another big hit, but she struck out on four pitches, chasing a high rise ball to end the inning.
St. John's took its first lead in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs on four hits, all of them singles. Ellen Czuba and Jackie Reed came up with RBI base hits in consecutive at bats to tally the three runs, with Reed driving in two on a liner to right center.
A heads up double play turned by senior Maria DeLuca (Cedar Grove, N.J.) ended the inning as she fielded an Erin Burner grounder up the middle, stepping on second before firing to first extinguish the threat.
The Red Storm lead was short lived as back came Seton Hall with the game-tying run in the fourth. With one out junior Whitney Jones (Skowhegan, Maine) ripped a double all the way to the fence in right center and senior Meredith Henze (Elkton, Md.) attempted to score from first, but Burner was there to field a crisp throw from the outfield and block the plate, preventing the run.
With runners at first and third, after Rabbetts was hit by a pitch for a third time on the day, DiPietro came up with the big game-tying hit, singling to left to allow Jones to score easily from third.
Neither team scored again until St. John's manufactured the game winner in the sixth. A couple of base hits and a walk loaded the bases for Burner with one out. She chopped a grounder to sophomore Yasmin Harrell (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) at short who snagged the ball and tagged Czuba as she ran by, but her throw to first was not in time to complete the double play as Lexi Robles scored from third.
Seton Hall had a chance in the seventh before a double play derailed the comeback attempt. Jones singled up the middle to start the inning and Rabbetts reached for a fourth time, this time via walk, but Haefeli grounded to short for a game-ending double play.
DeLuca, Jones and sophomore Faith Laudano (Islip, N.Y.) each had a pair of base hits on the day. DeStaso gave up four earned runs in six innings on the mound, allowing 12 hits with five strikeouts to fall to 6-6 overall.
Seton Hall is now 7-7 in a very congested BIG EAST Conference with five teams fighting for the final three spots at the BIG EAST Tournament.
Amongst those contenders the Pirates have played one fewer series because of a washout at Villanova last month, but those games will be made up this Monday-Tuesday, April 21-22, at Villanova. The three game set begins with a double header at Villanova on Monday afternoon starting at 1 p.m., with the series finale to follow on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
