March 23, 2006

Box Score

EAST NORRITON, PA - The Saint Joseph's softball team used a pair of grand slams to earn a doubleheader split versus Manhattan Thursday afternoon at East Norriton Field as the Hawks won the opener 9-1 in five innings, before falling 6-0 in the night cap.

In game one, Saint Joseph's jumped out to a 4-0 edge in the bottom of the first. Sophomore right fielder Kate Falasca reached on a throwing error by the Manhattan short stop and advanced to second as teammate Dani Gonzales drew a walk. Following a dropped pop fly by the Jaspers' third baseman that loaded the bases, freshman Sarah Falk drove a ball deep over the wall in right center to put the Hawks up by four.

Manhattan cut the deficit to 4-1 in the top of the fourth, but SJU would strike back for five in the bottom half of the inning to take a 9-1 lead. Saint Joseph's scored its first run as pinch runner Giulia Rosanova scored on a passed ball. The big blow came with the bases loaded as Gonzales fouled off several pitches before driving a shot over the center field wall for the Hawks' second grand slam of the game and her first career home run.

Sophomore hurler Lauren Cognigni shut the door in the top of the fifth as she got three straight Jaspers to pop out to end the game. Cognigni allowed one run on two hits, while striking out eight to improve to 5-5 on the season.

In the nightcap, Manhattan jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second and added two more in the third and two in the fourth to take a 5-0 edge.

The Jaspers added a run in the sixth to take a 6-0 lead, but the Hawks would threaten in the bottom of the seventh.

Saint Joseph's loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but would fail to plate a run as Manhattan got the final two Hawks to strike out and ground out to short stop to end the game.

Gonzales was the hard-luck loser allowing one unearned run to fall to 0-6 on the year.

At the plate, freshman Kelsey Moir went 3-for-6 on the day, with a run scored, while Gonzales and Falk both finished with four RBIs apiece.

With the split, the Hawks move to 6-17-1 on the year, while Manhattan moves to 9-9.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Sunday versus Saint Louis at East Norriton Field at noon.

**Photographs of today's game, as well as past Hawk games can be viewed at www.sidephotos.com.