The St. John’s softball team split its Saturday doubleheader at Patricia Wilson Field during the Stetson Invitational, securing a 6-4 comeback win over Columbia before falling 6-4 to Stetson. The Red Storm now holds an 11-3 record for the season.
Senior Jess Bianco played a key role in both games, recording four hits, two runs scored, and three stolen bases. She also reached her 100th career stolen base during the morning matchup against Columbia.
In the first game, St. John’s overcame an early four-run deficit to defeat Columbia. The team posted eight hits and committed no errors. Relief pitcher Loreley Francia delivered 6.2 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and striking out six batters.
Columbia started strong with four runs in the first inning. St. John’s responded in the second when Ava Fierst walked and later scored on an RBI single by Bianco. The Red Storm tied the game in the fifth after Bianco scored on a misplay at third base and Gia Fernandez drove in two more runs with a single to shallow center.
St. John’s secured the win with two runs in the seventh inning: Cassidy Stouffer scored on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Elanna Lysiak, and Natasha Limbani crossed home plate on an infield RBI single from Fierst.
Fierst finished with two hits, one RBI, and two runs scored; Fernandez drove in two runs; Bianco added two hits, one RBI, and two stolen bases—including her milestone 100th steal.
In game two against Stetson, St. John’s took an early lead by scoring in each of the first three innings but could not maintain it as Stetson mounted a steady offensive effort. The Red Storm collected six hits but left nine runners stranded.
London Slade opened scoring for St. John’s after reaching on an error and eventually crossing home following another defensive miscue by Stetson. In the second inning, Stouffer came home on an RBI bunt single by Bianco, who later scored himself due to another error.
By the third inning, Limbani walked and was driven home by Fierst’s bunt single after Ana Serafinko singled to second base, giving St. John’s a 4-1 advantage. However, Stetson answered with three runs in their half of the third inning—highlighted by Logan Forman’s two-run homer—to take a 5-4 lead.
Stetson added another run in the fifth when Irianis Garcia tripled and then scored on Nicole Edmiaston’s groundout to make it 6-4. Despite putting runners on base late in the game through walks drawn by Lysiak and Limbani, St. John’s could not close the gap.
Serafinko pitched six innings for St. John’s with five strikeouts while allowing eight hits. Bianco contributed another strong performance with two hits, one run scored, and one stolen base; Fierst added an RBI single; both Stouffer and Serafinko had one hit each during the loss.
St. John’s will finish its weekend play tomorrow morning with a final matchup against Columbia scheduled for 10 a.m.
