March 29, 2007

Box Score

EAST NORRITON, PA - Having its first three home games cancelled due to weather, the Saint Joseph's softball team made up for it Thursday, playing into extra innings in the opener of a doubleheader with Saint Peter's. Thanks to the heroics of senior Christa Lane Hooper, the Hawks won the opener 3-2 in eight innings over the Peahens, but dropped the nightcap, 7-5, at East Norriton Field.

In game one, Saint Joseph's junior pitcher Lauren Cognigni held the Peahens scoreless in the top of the eighth to keep the score tied at 2-2.

In the bottom half of the eighth, freshman catcher Brooke Darreff led off with a double to deep right field and would advance to third on the next play on a wild pitch by Saint Peter's pitcher Amber Phillips. Following a lineout, pinch hitter Christa Lane Hooper smacked a single down the third base line, past a drawn-in infield, to plate Darreff and win the game for Saint Joseph's.

The Peahens drew first in the opener though, scoring their first run in the top of the third on a RBI-single to right field off the bat of Kristen Kinnear.

Saint Joseph's quickly tied it in the bottom of the third on a RBI-single by sophomore Dani Gonzales, but Saint Peter's regained its lead in the top of the fourth on a RBI-double by Michelle Papierniak.

Down 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Hawks rallied to tie the game, and force extra innings, as freshman Alyssa Neilson led off with a double. Following a sacrifice bunt that moved the runner to third, sophomore second baseman Beka Shumock tied the game with a RBI-single that glanced off the lunging shortstop of Saint Peter's.

In game two, the Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run homerun to left field off the bat of sophomore catcher Erika Rosenwinkel.

Saint Joseph's extended its lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third on a RBI-double by Gonzales and a sacrifice fly by Darreff, and added a fifth run in the bottom of the fourth on a squeeze-bunt by sophomore Kelsey Moir.

Trailing 5-0, Saint Peter's rallied for two runs in the top of the fifth and would go on to added five runs in the top of the seventh to pull out the come-from-behind victory. The Peahens Michelle Casares tied the game with a RBI double to left-centerfield and would come around to score the eventual game-winning run on a two-run homer by Tricia Reingle.

Rosenwinkel led the Hawks' offense, going 2-for-4 on the day with two extra-base hits, three RBIs and two runs scored. Cognigni pitched eight strong, striking out five to earn the victory in the opener.

With the split, Saint Joseph's moves to 4-12 on the year, while Saint Peter's moves to 5-9.

The Hawks return to action this Sunday, April 1, when they travel to city-rival La Salle for a noon start.

*** Photos from today's games are available at www.sidephotos.com