April 16, 2008

Box Score

GALLERY

EAST NORRITON, PA - Behind the stellar pitching performance from Saint Joseph's junior Dani Gonzales, the SJU softball team earned 11-0 and 4-0 victories over Temple Wednesday afternoon at East Norriton Field. Hawks' junior Erika Rosenwinkel's single in the third inning of game helped the Hawks' offense to its best performance of the season and made Rosenwinkel the 23rd Hawk in program history to record 100 hits.

In the opener, Gonzales quickly asserted herself on the mound for Saint Joseph's (10-17, 6-6 Atlantic 10), retiring the Owls in order.

In the bottom half of the first, SJU jumped out to a 4-0 edge. After the first two Hawk batters reached base, junior Erika Rosenwinkel put SJU up 1-0 with a RBI single, scoring freshman shortstop Dana Bieniek from second and advancing freshman center fielder Laura Cardone to third. Cardone would come around to put the Hawks up 2-0 on a passed ball, while sophomore Brooke Darreff gave Saint Joseph's a 4-0 lead on a two-run home run to centerfield.

Holding Temple in check in the second, the Hawks extended their lead to 7-0 with three runs in the bottom half of the second. Rosenwinkel collected her second hit of the game, putting SJU up 6-0 on a two-run double to left field. She would come around to score on the next at-bat as Darreff drove her home with a RBI single.

Gonzales' arm and the Hawks' bats cruised into the third, with Saint Joseph's posting four more runs in the bottom half of the inning. Again Rosenwinkel delivered with a clutch hit to left field, allowing two runs to score. The hit was the 100th of Rosenwinkel's career.

Saint Joseph's, which added another pair of runs in the third to jump out to an 11-0 lead, saw only one Owl reach base over the final two innings as Gonzales picked up the complete-game shutout victory.

In the nightcap, Saint Joseph's again did damage early, as the Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 in the bottom half of the first. Gonzales put SJU up 2-0 with a two-run single to centerfield, followed by a RBI single off the bat of classmate Sarah Falk that gave the Hawks a 3-0 edge.

After retiring the Owls (13-16, 3-9 A-10) in order in the second, Saint Joseph's tacked on a fourth run courtesy of the speed of Cardone. Reaching on a bunt single, Cardone then stole second in the next at bat. Keeping her momentum, Cardone stole third and came around to score as the throw from Temple's catcher missed its mark and rolled into the outfield.

On the mound, Gonzales continued to dominate, allowing just two hits in the second game as SJU earned the victory. Gonzales picked up the wins in both games, allowing a combined four hits, while striking out 14 in 12 innings of work.

At the plate, Rosenwinkel collected four hits, while Darreff finished with a team-best five RBI.

Saint Joseph's hosts La Salle Sunday for a doubleheader beginning at noon.

*** Photos of today's games are available at www.sidephotos.com