March 11, 2005

Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, FL - The Saint Joseph's softball team opened play Friday in the Florida State Seminole Invitational with an 8-0 win over Eastern Kentucky before falling 4-0 to #21 Florida State in the evening.

In the opener, both the Hawks and Eastern Kentucky went scoreless over the opening two innings.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, Saint Joseph's broke it open in the fifth. The Hawks plated five runs in the top of the fifth and two more in the final innings to hang on to earn their first victory of the season.

Freshman pitcher Lauren Cognigni recorded two firsts, earning her first career shutout in her first collegiate victory.

At the plate, junior second baseman Jill Clementi went three-for-three with three RBI and three runs scored. Sophomore third baseman Rachel Pawlikowski added three RBI, while seniors Cara Deldeo and Alicia Cunic added an RBI apiece.

In the nightcap, the #21-ranked Seminoles proved too much for the Hawks.

After a scoreless top of the first, Florida State's All-American second baseman Veronica Wootson gave the Seminoles a 2-0 lead. With a runner on first, Wootson drilled a two-run home run off the Hawks' Lauren Hughes.

Following a scoreless second, the Seminoles added two more runs in the bottom of the third. Catcher Billieanne Gay led off the bottom of the third with a triple. Gay would come around to score on a wild pitch and designated hitter Melissa Wood drilled a RBI single to give Florida State a 4-0 lead.

Both teams would go scoreless over the final four innings as the Hawks managed only three hits.

Hughes was the hard-luck loser, allowing four runs on nine hits, while striking out three.

With the split, the Hawks move to 1-3 on the season.

Saint Joseph's will begin the second-day of play at the Seminole Invitational tomorrow at 1 p.m. In the nightcap, the Hawks will then face Radford.