April 25, 2008

Box Score

EAST NORRITON, PA - Behind the first collegiate home run of freshman shortstop Dana Bieniek, the Saint Joseph's softball team topped Fordham, 6-5, in an Atlantic 10 contest Friday afternoon at East Norriton Field. The rookie's solo shot to lead off the bottom of the fourth proved to be the difference as the Hawks improved to 16-18 overall and 9-6 in conference play.

It was a slugfest to start the game as the Rams jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first against SJU starting pitcher Dani Gonzales. Fordham tallied its first run on a RBI-double by Jocelyn Dearborn that narrowly remained fair down the third baseline, allowing Allison Storc to score on the play. A hard shot to shortstop by Samantha Pellechio in the next at-bat put the Rams up 2-0 as Dearborn came around to score.

Saint Joseph's fought back to tie the game in the bottom of the inning, With the bases loaded and two outs, Gonzales delivered a bloop single just out of reach of Fordham's shortstop, allowing Bieniek and sophomore Brooke Darreff to score and tie the game at two.

The draw didn't last long as the Rams regained the lead in the top of the second. With two outs and a runner at second, Gonzales handled a slow roller up the first base line by Fordham's Allison Twarowski only to have her throw bounce off the Hawks' first baseman, allowing Meghan Shager to score and put the Rams back ahead, 3-2.

For the second straight inning the Hawks' offense responded, this time tallying three runs to gain their first lead of the contest, 5-3. After chasing Fordham starter Beckah Wiggins with a walk and single to start the bottom of the second, Saint Joseph's loaded the bases with one out. With the bases loaded and junior Erika Rosenwinkel at the plate, relief pitcher Nicole Ayres uncorked a wild pitch to the back stop. The Rams' Storc tried to retrieve the ball and catch the Hawks' junior Beka Shumock heading home, but her throw was low and got by the Fordham pitcher and first baseman, allowing both Shumock and Bieniek to score.

Up 4-3, Rosenwinkel delivered an RBI-double to left field, scoring SJU's freshman outfielder Laura Cardone from third.

Fordham cut the deficit to one, 5-4 in the top of the third on a solo home run by Dearborn, but Gonzales and the Hawks' defense shut down the Rams over the next three innings, allowing only one Fordham hit.

Leading 5-4, Bieniek delivered the decisive blow to start the bottom of the fourth, drilling a solo home run down the left field line, putting Saint Joseph's ahead 6-4.

The Hawks would need the insurance run as Fordham rallied in the top of the seventh. Giving up leadoff singles to start the inning, Gonzales retired Twarowski on a sacrifice bunt, as the Rams put the tying runs in scoring position. On the next at-bat, Saint Joseph's junior third baseman Sue Lebow fielded a shot to third and threw home, allowing Darreff to tag the lead runner out for the second out of the inning.

A RBI-single to left field by Storc brought the Rams within a run, but Gonzales was able get out of it, getting Dearborn to fly out to Cardone in center to end the game.

Gonzales, who allowed four earned runs over seven innings of work, improved to 10-8 on the year and finished with five strike outs. At the plate, Darreff and Rosenwinkel both collected a pair of hits, while Bieniek added a game-high three runs.

Saint Joseph's and Fordham cap the two-game series Saturday at noon at East Norriton Field.