April 13, 2007

Box Score

EAST NORRITON, PA - A pair of runs by sophomore Erika Rosenwinkel helped the Saint Joseph's softball team down Dayton, 5-2, Friday afternoon at a windy East Norriton Field.

The Hawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Rosenwinkel's fly ball to right centerfield swirled around and dropped in for a triple. Rosenwinkel put SJU up 1-0 as classmate Dani Gonzalez singled to rightfield in the next at-bat.

Following two more scoreless innings by Saint Joseph's junior pitcher Lauren Cognigni, the Hawks extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third. With two outs, junior Carly Kinkler doubled down the leftfield line to start a rally. Kinkler put SJU up 2-0 on a RBI single by Rosenwinkel to left centerfield. Following a pair of walks, Rosenwinkel came around to score on a fielding error by the Dayton shortstop, upping Saint Joseph's lead to 3-0.

Trailing 3-0, the Flyers rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Following a bases-loaded groundout, Blair Crabtree singled to centerfield to cut the deficit to 3-1 as Molly Meyer scored from third. In the next at-bat, Christine Eggers brought Dayton within 3-2 as she scored on a RBI groundout off the bat of Sheena Rothwell. Thankfully for the Hawks, Cognigni was able to get Tamsyn Kellough to groundout to end the Flyers' threat.

Having their lead cut to one, Saint Joseph's tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore centerfielder Kelsey Moir collected two RBIs on another fielding error by the Dayton shortstop.

Gonzales, who relieved Cognigni in the sixth, allowed a leadoff hit to start the seventh, but retired the next three Flyers to earn her first save of the season.

Cognigni improves to 5-9 on the year with the win as she allowed two run s on five hits, while striking out five. Offensively, Rosenwinkel went 2-for-3 on the afternoon with a RBI, while Moir led the way with two RBIs. Gonzales and sophomore second baseman Beka Shumock each added an RBI.

With the win, the Hawks improve to 3-4 in the Atlantic 10 and 10-17 overall. Dayton falls to 5-19 overall and 1-7 in conference play.

The two teams will wrap up the two-game series tomorrow at noon at East Norriton Field.