April 22, 2007

Box Score

EAST NORRITON, PA - The Saint Joseph's softball team capped the home portion of its schedule Sunday afternoon at East Norriton Field, dropping a doubleheader to Atlantic 10-leading Massachusetts, 10-2 and 8-0.

In the opener, the Minutewomen jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as Lauren Proctor and Amanda Acampora each collected a RBI off the Hawks' junior pitcher Lauren Cognigni.

Saint Joseph's rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the second. With runners at second and third with one out, the Hawks added their first run of the game as pinch runner Lauren Hughes (Holland, PA/Council Rock South) scored on a wild pitch by Massachusetts' pitcher Brandice Balschmitter Saint Joseph's senior third baseman Rachel Pawlikowski, who advanced to third on the wild pitch, came around to tie the score on a sacrifice fly to right field by sophomore second baseman Beka Shumock.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, Massachusetts regained the lead in the top half of the third, scoring two runs on RBIS by Acampora and Whitney Molica.

The Minutewomen would seal the game scoring five runs in the fourth, capped by a grand slam by Molica and a run in the fifth to earn the 10-2 victory.

In game two, Saint Joseph's led off the bottom half of the first with runners at second and third with one out. Unfortunately, Massachusetts' pitcher Bailey Sanders got the next two SJU batters to strike out and ground out to end the threat.

Massachusetts would take advantage of Sanders' pitching, scoring two runs in the second and three in both the third and fifth to open an 8-0 lead.

On the other side, the Hawks' bats were kept silent, as Sanders retired 12 of the next 13 batters to preserve the win.

With the loss, the Hawks fall to 5-9 in the Atlantic 10 and 12-22 overall. Massachusetts improves to 26-12-1 overall and 11-0 in conference play.

Saint Joseph's returns to action next Sunday with a doubleheader at Saint Louis.