April 11, 2008

Box Score

AMHERST, MA - In a classic pitchers' duel, the Saint Joseph's softball team came up short Friday afternoon as the host Massachusetts Minutewomen tallied a late run to earn the 1-0 win over the Hawks at the UMass Softball Complex. Saint Joseph's was led by pitcher Dani Gonzales' solid performance on the mound, in which the junior allowed just one run on four hits, while striking out six.

Both starting pitchers Gonzales and Massachusetts' Brandice Balschmitter were stellar over the opening five innings, as only one batter reached third base.

With the score knotted at 0-0, the Minutewomen slipped ahead in the bottom half of the sixth. Following a leadoff single by Carly Normandin, Gonzales retired the next two Massachusetts batters, while Normandin advanced to second. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the Minutewomen's Whitney Mollica drilled a single to third base, allowing Normandin to come around to score the game's lone run.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the seventh, the Hawks were unable to get anything going offensively as Balschmitter retired the three SJU batters in order to preserve the win for Massachusetts.

With the loss, the Hawks fall to 3-4 in Atlantic 10 play and 7-15 overall. Massachusetts improves to 9-0 in conference play and 22-11 overall.

At the plate, Gonzales, classmate Beka Shumock and sophomore Brooke Darreff were the lone Hawks to collect a hit on the day.

Saint Joseph's and the Minutewomen cap the two-game series Saturday at noon at the UMass Softball Complex.