AMHERST, MA (04/17/01) - St. Joseph's failed to defeat the #25 UMass Minutewomen in its three-game Atlantic 10 series, but they did manage to put a scare in the five-time A-10 Champions in two of the three games. In the series finale, UMass jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings, only to have SJU rebound with five runs of its own to cut the margin to 5 after 4 ˝ innings. The Minutewomen, however, held on for the 8-5 win. After Kaila Holtz retired SJU in order in the top of the first, shortstop Emily Robustelli greeted Hawk sophomore Brandie Adams with a triple to start the bottom of the inning. Centerfielder Teri Rooney followed that with an RBI single, later scoring on a Holtz double to make it , 2-0 after one. Sophomore first baseman Brandi Cross's three-run double in the bottom of the second made the score 5-0, with Adams (4-10) then being relieved by freshman Dana Travis. The Wilmington, DE native limited the Minutewomen to three hits over the remaining 4 2/3 innings, striking out three. Instead of hanging their heads, the Hawks fought back, tallying two runs in the third, with Gale Treskot, Heather Chapman and Lindsey McNamara singling, with McNamara driving in Treskot. Chapman later scored on a wild pitch. UMass picked up two more in the fourth with the help of two walks and an error to make the score, 7-2. Again the Hawks did not fall over and die. Instead, they pushed three runs across on Holtz (11-1), knocking the UMass starter out of the game. With one out, five straight Hawks reached base. Consecutive singles by Chapman, Kristin Nau and Teresa Andreani (RBI) were followed by a walk to McNamara and a RBI single by Missy Rhoades. Junior Jennifer Hadley then came in to retire the final two outs and end the rally. UMass (26-9, 12-0 in A-10 play), which has now won 20 straight games, then scored a final run in the sixth and Hadley shut the door on SJU's comeback. The Hawks, 14-19-1, 5-7 in A-10 play, host Seton Hall on Thursday at East Norriton Field (3:00 PM).