May 12, 2005

Box Score

BRONX, NY - The third-seeded Saint Joseph's Hawks jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, but Massachusetts' bats were too much as the Minutewomen downed the Hawks 10-1 in the opening day of the Atlantic 10 Softball Championship at Bahoshy Field on the campus of Fordham University.

The Hawks got on the board in the top of the first as senior Megan Richardson and junior Katie McCann both reached on infield hits. Junior Jill Clementi followed with a bunt, but Massachusetts' Hilary Puglia couldn't handle a throw at third, bobbling the ball into left field. Richardson would come around to score as McCann and Clementi advanced to second and third.

Unfortunately for Saint Joseph's, both McCann and Clementi would be stranded as Jenna Busa pitched out of trouble for the Minutewomen.

The Hawks lead was short as Massachusetts tallied four runs in the bottom of the first to take a 4-1 lead. KJ Kelly put the Minutewomen up 2-0 with a two-run home run to left-center field off Saint Joseph's freshman Lauren Cognigni. Massachusetts would rough-up Cognigni for two more runs in the bottom of the first.

The Minutewomen bats kept hot over the next few innings, while the Hawks stranded their opportunities. Massachusetts plated two runs in the second and four in the fourth to extend their lead to 10-1. On the other side, The Hawks stranded three runners over the same three innings as the Minutewomen held on for the victory.

With the loss, Saint Joseph's will face St. Bonaventure, who fell 6-2 to Fordham in the opener, at 2 p.m. tomorrow in a must-win game. Massachusetts will face top-seeded Fordham at noon.

On the day, the Hawks collected five hits, as Richardson led the way going two-for-three. Cognigni was the hard-luck loser falling to 13-11 overall.