April 1, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's softball team split its Atlantic 10-opening doubleheader at La Salle Sunday afternoon at Good Shepherd Field. The Hawks won the opener 5-1, but dropped the nightcap 11-7.

In game one, La Salle jumped out to 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Explorers' Laura DeZolt doubled off the Hawks' junior pitcher Lauren Cognigni to begin the inning. DeZolt, who advanced to third on a passed ball, gave La Salle the lead as she came home on an errant throw by the Saint Joseph's catcher in a attempt DeZolt advancing to third.

Despite the costly error, the Hawks took advantage of the same error, this time by La Salle, in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded and no outs, the Explorers pitcher Laura Beth McCreesh uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Saint Joseph's junior Kate Falasca and sophomore Beka Shumock to score from second and third, respectively, to put SJU up 2-1. Earning a walk in the next at-bat, junior Carly Kinkler promptly stole second, causing a rushed throw by La Salle catcher Michelle Sullivan. The hurried throw sailed into the outfield, allowing the Hawks' sophomore Kelsey Moir to score from third to put the team up 3-1.

Moir added a two-RBI single in the top of the sixth to put Saint Joseph's up 5-1 and Cognigni closed out the victory, retiring the final six Explorers in order.

In game two, La Salle took advantage of six SJU errors en route to an 11-7 win. The Explorers jumped out to an 11-0 lead, scoring one run in the first, three runs in the second, four runs in the third and three runs in the fourth.

Down 11, Saint Joseph's fought back with a big fifth inning. The Hawks tallied five runs on five hits and one La Salle error.

Trailing by six in the top of the seventh, the Hawks kept chipping away at the Explorers' lead. With runners at the corners, Moir delivered a double, scoring Shumock and Falasca to bring the Hawks within four, 11-7. Unfortunately on the play, Moir was caught in a rundown trying to advance to third and was tagged out by the La Salle third baseman and the Explorers retired the next two Hawks in order to preserve the victory.

With the split, Saint Joseph's moves to 5-13 overall and 1-1 in Atlantic 10 play. La Salle moves to 9-13 overall and 4-5 in A-10 play.

The Hawks return to action this Tuesday, April 3, when they host Villanova at 3 p.m.