Arteaga Fuels Pirates to Win over St. John's

(Photo: SHU Athletics)

By: Frank Frasco

Coming off a tough nonconference loss earlier in the week, the Seton Hall softball team arrived swinging in Queens, NY as the Pirates came out on top against the St. John's Red Storm, final score 9-8.

Sophomore LF Hailey Arteaga was by far the player of the game, homering twice to help the Pirates take game one of a three-game series with the No. 3 team in the Big East.

The Hall opened the game in the top of the first with back to back walks before cleanup hitter Arteaga hit a three-run shot deep to left field to bring the score 3-0.

Arteaga went yard again in the third with a solo blast to center that brought the lead to 4-1 in the Pirates favor.

The Red Storm made a bit of a rally in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring two runs to cut the score to 4-3. However, who else came in clutch but Arteaga who cut any further damage by SJU after making a diving grab in left field to end the inning.

The Pirates, realizing that their defense could only hold for so long, scored five runs in the top of the fifth after a three-run homer from freshmen Payton Beaver and a two-run double by Darby Pandolfo.

All five runs were necessary as St. John's matched those runs scored in the bottom of the fifth to be behind by only one run. However, it was the clutch defense on the mound by Reganne Camp, who entered in the fifth, and the nine out save that ensued from the stellar pitching.

With the win, the Pirates are now 18-23 (4-6 conference), and look to take this rival series on Saturday with a doubleheader. First game tomorrow is expected to begin at 12p.m. Catch all the action and more on wsou.net.

Frank Frasco can be reached at frank.frasco@student.shu.edu.