April 20, 2008

Box Score

EAST NORRITON, PA - The Saint Joseph's softball team completed a stellar week of Atlantic 10 play, sweeping its doubleheader versus La Salle, 2-0 and 5-2, Sunday afternoon at East Norriton Field. The Hawks, who earlier in the week swept Temple, improved to 12-17 overall and 8-6 in Atlantic 10 play.

In the opener, Saint Joseph's took advantage of an error by La Salle to tally a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third. With a runner at first with one out, La Salle's Laura Beth McCreesh was able to get Hawks' junior Erika Rosenwinkel to ground to shortstop, but the Explorers' fielder was unable to field the ball, allowing Rosenwinkel to reach and the inning to continue.

After a walk to sophomore catcher Brooke Darreff, senior left fielder Kelsey Moir smacked a two-run single to right field, scoring freshman Dana Bieniek and Rosenwinkel to put SJU up 2-0.

Handed a 2-0 lead, junior pitcher Dani Gonzales made the lead stick. Gonzales posted her third straight victory despite finding herself in a jam in the seventh. After giving up a leadoff single, Gonzales induced a groundball double play and got La Salle's Ali Shepherd to line out to end the game. Gonzales, throwing seven scoreless innings, allowed just two hits, while striking out nine.

In game two, La Salle (16-22, 6-10 A-10) struck first as Mary Pat Conville drilled a RBI double off Saint Joseph's starter Lauren Cognigni to put the Explorers up 1-0. Cognigni settled down though for the Hawks, striking out the next two batters to get out the inning.

Down one, Saint Joseph's offense rallied in the bottom of the first for three runs before a minor rain delay. Saint Joseph's tied the game on RBI single by Rosenwinkel, while Darreff put the Hawks up 3-1 with a two-RBI double down the left field line, scoring freshman Laura Cardone and Rosenwinkel on the play.

Cognigni held the Explorers in check in the top of the second, allowing SJU's offense to add insurance in the bottom of the second. Bieniek, who drilled a two-out double to left field, manufactured her own run, promptly stealing third. On the steal, La Salle attempted to catch Bieniek, only to have the ball get past the Explorers' third baseman, allowing Bieniek to put SJU up 4-1.

La Salle fought back, scoring a run in the third and chasing Cognigni from the game. Despite pitching seven innings already, Gonzales returned to the mound and was again dominant, retiring two straight batters to get out of the inning.

An RBI double by Moir in the third extended SJU's lead to 5-2, while Gonzales allowed just one hit over the final four innings to earn her second win of the day, while posting four more strikeouts.

Saint Joseph's returns to action at Villanova Tuesday, April 22 at 3:30.