April 23, 2008

Box Score

EAST NORRITON, PA - Striking out Fairleigh Dickinson's leadoff batter to start game two, Saint Joseph's senior pitcher Lauren Cognigni became the Hawks' all-time leader in strikeouts as SJU earned an 8-2 and 5-4 sweep of the Knights Wednesday afternoon at East Norriton Field.

After tying the all-time mark of 515 strikeouts to end game one, Cognigni needed just one batter in game two to become the all-time leader. Cognigni struck out Brianne Benedict to officially pass the mark set by Dana Travis '04, and added another whiff to end the top of the first to finish with five on the day and 517 all-time.

The Hawks' (15-18) offense took over in the bottom of the first, tallying three runs off FDU starter Ashley Buchanan. Saint Joseph's freshman Dana Bieniek tallied the first SJU run on a throwing error, as the Knights failed to handle a sacrifice bunt by junior Erika Rosenwinkel correctly. Sophomore catcher Brooke Darreff extended the lead in the next at-bat, smacking a two-run double to right center, scoring freshman Laura Cardone and Rosenwinkel.

The Knights fought back and took a 4-3 lead in the top of the second as Ali Keltos drilled a grand slam to center field off Saint Joseph's reliever Lauren Pembleton.

Despite giving up the lead, Pembleton was solid for SJU from there, holding the Knights hitless over the final five innings and allowing SJU to rally.

The Hawks tied the game in the bottom, of the fifth on a RBI single by Darreff and, with runners at second and third with zero outs in the seventh, senior outfielder Kelsey Moir delivered the game-winning RBI-single to center field to earn the victory for Saint Joseph's.

In the opener, Fairleigh Dickinson jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first behind a solo home run by Brianne Benedict, but the Hawks rallied to tie it in the bottom half of the inning on a RBI single, scoring Rosenwinkel on the play.

With the game tied at one apiece, SJU took the lead in the bottom of the second on a RBI single by Bieniek, only to have Fairleigh Dickinson rally in the top of the fifth to tie the score at two on a Maria Finnegan single.

Saint Joseph's would blow the game open in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs to jump out to a 6-2 lead. The Hawks went up 4-2 on a two-RBI double by Moir, with junior Dani Gonzales adding a RBI-double and coming around to score on a passed ball.

Up 6-2, Saint Joseph's turned to Cognigni to close it out. The senior allowed a walk in the sixth, but held the Knights at bay, allowing her team to extend its lead to 8-2 on a two-RBI single by sophomore Cori Bower.

Cognigni was perfect in the seventh, tying the all-time record with a strikeout to end the game and earn the save.

Gonzales, who allowed one run over 3.2 innings of work earned the win in game one, while Pembleton earned the victory in game two. At the plate, Darreff finished 6-of-8 with four RBI, while Rosenwinkel scored five runs and every position starter registered a hit.

The Hawks return to action Friday versus Fordham at 3 p.m.