April 29, 2005

Box Score

EAST NORRITON, PA - With its postseason life in the balance, the Saint Joseph's softball team swept an Atlantic 10 Conference series versus George Washington Friday afternoon, winning 10-2 and 12-11 at East Norriton Field.

The Hawks, who entered today's twin bill tied with the Colonials for fifth in the A-10, jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the opener. With two on and two out, sophomore third baseman Rachel Pawlikowski smacked a two-run single down the left-field line off of the Colonials pitcher Jen Hrycyna.

Despite giving up a run in the top of the second, Saint Joseph's seemed unfazed, scoring four in the bottom of the second to take a 6-1 edge. Senior catcher Alicia Cunic accounted for two of the RBIs on a double to left center, while junior Jill Clementi and junior Katie McCann each collected an RBI.

The Colonials would cut the deficit to four, 6-2 in the top of the fifth, but the Hawks rallied for three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 9-2 edge. Cunic drilled an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth to put Saint Joseph's up 10-2, earning a victory for the Hawks by way of the international mercy rule of eight runs.

On the mound, freshman Lauren Cognigni improved to 11-9 as she allowed two runs on five hits, while striking out eight.

In the nightcap, the Colonials struck first as the opening six batters all reached, forcing Saint Joseph's sophomore pitcher Lauren Hughes from the game, forcing Cognigni back to the mound.

Leading 4-0, George Washington's Katy Harrigan put the colonials up 7-0 on a three-run home run to right field off of Cognigni.

Trailing by seven, the Hawks refused to give in as they cut the deficit to three, 7-4, in the bottom of the second. McCann dealt the biggest blow of the inning, a three-run triple down the right field line.

Saint Joseph's continued to chip away at Colonials, cutting their lead to 7-6 with a two-run fourth.

The Hawks completed the comeback in the bottom of the fifth as Gabby Culp walked McCann with the bases loaded. In the next at-bat, Clementi hit into a fielder's choice, forcing out the Hawks lead runner. Fortunately for SJU, senior Megan Richardson would score from second as the George Washington tried to get Clementi out at first as the Hawks took an 8-7 lead.

With runners on at first and second, Cunic took a pitch from the Colonials' reliever Lisa Cohen deep over the left field wall to put the Hawks ahead 11-7.

Even though momentum seemed to be on the Hawks side, George Washington refused to quit, touching up Cognigni for four runs on five hits in the top of the seventh to knot the score at 11.

With a possible postseason berth on the line, Saint Joseph's got a little help in the bottom of the seventh. Following two straight outs, Clementi drew a full-count walk. Cunic, who was three-for-four on the day at that point, hit a towering fly ball into right-center field. As Clementi sped around the bases, George Washington's Kate Harrigan and Jackie Yaniga converged on the pop fly, only to have the ball slip through Harrigan's glove and fall to the ground as Clementi touched home to give the Hawks the 12-11 win.

After another seven innings of work, Cognigni moved to 12-9 on the year as she struck out six in the relief victory.

Offensively, Cunic led the Hawk batters, going six-for-nine with eight RBI and two runs scored. McCann and Pawlikowski each accounted for five RBI apiece, while as a team, Saint Joseph's collected 25 hits.

With the sweep, the Hawks pull even with Dayton for the fourth and final spot as SJU moves to 6-6 in Atlantic 10 play and 19-19 overall. With the losses, the Colonials fall to 9-31 overall and 4-8 in the A-10.

Saint Joseph's heads into its final conference series of the season as the Hawks are set to host St. Bonaventure on senior day at noon on Sunday.