March 31, 2006

Box Score

EAST NORRITON, PA - A three-run home run from freshman second baseman Sarah Falk helped the Saint Joseph's softball team earn a split in its Atlantic 10 doubleheader with St. Bonaventure. The Hawks dropped the opener, but won the nightcap due to Falk's heroics 5-3 at East Norriton Field.

In game two, the Bonnies jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth as Kristin Brunetto led off with a double. After advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt, Brunetto would come in to score on ground out as she slid past the tag of Hawks' catcher Erika Rosenwinkel to put St. Bonaventure up.

The Hawks would rally to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth as sophomore Carly Kinkler led off with a single and ended up at third on two St. Bonaventure fielding errors. With a runner on first, freshman third baseman Rebeka Shumock hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Kinkler, to knot the game at one.

Saint Joseph's would take a 2-1 lead on a sacrifice fly by freshman outfielder Kelsey Moir as pinch runner Giulia Rosanova scored.

The Hawks lead was short lived, as the Bonnies plated two in the top of the sixth on a two-out fielding error by the Hawks. With a runner at second, Caitlin Grattan singled to center for St. Bonaventure and the ball got under the glove of Moir and went to the wall, allowing Gratton to score the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the fifth, Saint Joseph's first two batters reached as freshman Dani Gonzales singled and advanced to second as Rosenwinkel was hit by a pitch.

With two runners on, Falk tried to advance the runners with a sacrifice bunt, but failed to lay one down, earning a two-strike count. Despite being behind in the count, Falk took advantage of the situation and drilled a ball deep over the left field wall to put SJU up 5-3.

The Hawks defense took over from there, they got out of a leadoff triple in the top of the sixth and retired St. Bonaventure in order in the seventh to earn the win.

In the opener, the Bonnies took advantage of three Saint Joseph's errors as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth as Andrea Swanger dealt the biggest blow, a three-run double with two outs.

St. Bonaventure would add an insurance run in the fifth and held Saint Joseph's to only five hits over seven innings.

On the day, Falk finished two-for-six with three RBI and a run scored. On the mound, Gonzales picked up her first collegiate win in game two, allowing three runs on four hits, while striking out three. Sophomore pitcher Lauren Cognigni was the hard-luck loser in game one, allowing only one earned run on seven hits, while striking out eight.

With the split, the Hawks move to 9-20-1 on the year and 2-2 in A-10 play, while St. Bonaventure moves to 6-11 overall and 2-2 in the A-10.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Tuesday, April 4 at Rider.