March 30, 2008

Box Score

DAYTON, OHIO - The Saint Joseph's softball team split its Atlantic 10 doubleheader at Dayton Sunday afternoon. The Hawks blanked the Flyers 3-0 in the opener, but fell 2-1 in a walk-off homer in the nightcap.

In game one, both Saint Joseph's junior pitcher Dani Gonzales and Dayton's Erin LaFayette were stellar over the opening six innings, allowing just six hits, while the game remained scoreless heading into the seventh.

That all changed in the top of the seventh. With one out, and runners at second and third, freshman Dana Bieniek delivered a two-run double to left-center field, scoring sophomore Cori Bower and junior Sue Lebow to put the Hawks up 2-0.

Following a strike out, junior Erika Rosenwinkel put Saint Joseph's up 3-0 with double down the left field line.

Gonzales secured the victory in the bottom of the seventh. Despite giving up a one-out single, Gonzales struck out the next two Dayton batters to earn the complete-game victory as she finished the game with a season-high 11 strikeouts.

In game two, Saint Joseph's jumped out to a 1-0 edge in the top of the first. Following a two-out double by Rosenwinkel, sophomore catcher Brooke Darreff drilled a shot to left field. The ball was misplayed by the Flyers' outfielder, allowing Rosenwinkel to put SJU ahead.

With a 1-0 lead, Saint Joseph's senior pitcher Lauren Cognigni was steady on the mound, allowing just two Dayton hits over the first six innings, giving the Hawks' a 1-0 edge heading into the seventh inning.

After a scoreless top half of the seventh, Cognigni got the leadoff batter to ground out, but gave up a single to left field to Dayton's Anne Maci. Cognigni was able to get the Flyers' Laura Matthews to ground out for the second out of the inning in the next at-bat.

Unfortunately for the Hawks', Dayton's Megan Lee delivered in the clutch for her team, drilling a two-run home run to center field to give the Flyers the victory.

With the split, Saint Joseph's moved to 2-2 in A-10 play and 5-12 overall. Dayton moves to 2-4 overall in conference play and 15-14 on the year.

The Hawks return to action this Tuesday, April 1, versus Fairleigh Dickinson. Game one begins at 3 p.m. at East Norriton Field.