May 7, 2008

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, NC - Backed by junior outfielder Erika Rosenwinkel's three RBI, the Saint Joseph's softball team downed Saint Louis, 4-1, Wednesday afternoon at Phillips Field. The Hawks, which needed the win over the Billikens to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament after falling to Fordham earlier, will play at 3 p.m. Thursday versus the lower seeded loser from the day's first two contests.

In Saint Joseph's (19-22) second game of the day, the Hawks fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first to the sixth-seeded Billikens due to an error. Reaching on an error by SJU's third baseman, Kristin Nicoletti promptly stole second and was moved over to third on an infield groundout. With one out, Saint Louis' Rachel Heet did her job, hitting a sacrifice fly off Saint Joseph's starter Lauren Cognigni, allowing Nicolleti cross the plate and put SLU up 1-0.

The Hawks rallied in the bottom of the first to tie the game at one apiece, taking advantage of a Saint Louis error. Freshman Laura Cardone reached on a one-out bunt single, and advanced to third as the Billikens misplayed a grounder by Rosenwinkel. With runners at the corners, sophomore Brooke Darreff hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Cardone to tie the game 1-1.

Cognigni was solid over the next two innings for SJU, allowing two hits, while striking out a pair and keeping the game knotted at one.

Saint Joseph's gained its first lead of the A-10 Championship in the bottom of the third as freshman shortstop Dana Bieniek scored on a RBI double by Rosenwinkel.

Katie Johns tried to start a rally for Saint Louis in the top of the fourth, drilling a leadoff double that chased Cognigni from the game. The Billikens would add a pair of singles off SJU junior Dani Gonzales to load the bases, but the Hawks' defense stepped up. With its lead threatened, SJU got two outs on consecutive force plays at home, with Gonzales getting Nicoletti to fly out to Rosenwinkel in right field to end the inning.

Up 2-1, the Hawks added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out two-run homer to center field off the bat of Rosenwinkel.

Saint Louis (23-33-1) again threatened, this time in the sixth, having two runners on with one out. But again Gonzales and Saint Joseph's defense was able to get out of the jam, and added a scoreless seventh to earn the win and advance to day two of the A-10 Championship.

"Dani Gozales did a great job for us in the circle," said Saint Joseph's head coach Terri Adams. "She came into the game and got some big strikeouts for us. Lauren Cognigni also did a good job pitching for us today. On offense, Erika Rosenwinkel came up big with her two-run home run that pushed us over the top. Hopefully, we will make more noise in the tournament tomorrow."

Gonzales improved to 12-11 on the year, throwing four scoreless innings, while striking out five. At the plate, Rosenwinkel was 2-of-3 with three RBI and a run scored, while Bieniek added a pair of hits and runs.