Feb. 13, 2009

Box Score

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - The Saint Joseph's softball team opened its 2009 season with a split in its first two games of the Campbell University Camel Stampede Friday evening. The Hawks dropped their season-opening contest to Ohio, 4-2, but earned a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over Charleston Southern in the nightcap.

In the opener versus Ohio University, the Hawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second as freshman third baseman Monica Aguilar scored on a RBI-single off the bat of senior left fielder Beka Shumock.

The lead didn't last long as the Bobcats tallied a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to gain a 2-1 edge and added the eventual go-ahead run in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI-triple by Brooke Morgart off SJU's senior pitcher Dani Gonzales.

Saint Joseph's cut the deficit to one on a RBI-single by junior catcher Brooke Darreff in the top of the fifth, but Ohio added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and cut the Hawks' rally off in the top of the seventh.

Against Charleston Southern, Saint Joseph's fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first as Jamie Wellons drilled a two-out RBI single off SJU's Gonzales.

The Hawks collected just a pair of hits over the first five innings as Charleston Southern shutdown the SJU offense.

That all changed in the bottom of the sixth as Saint Joseph's collected three runs on two hits and three Charleston Southern errors. Freshman Bernadette Moran tallied the Hawks' first run on a RBI by senior Erika Rosenwinkel. Darreff collected a RBI as Charleston Southern's short stop misplayed a ball, allowing SJU sophomore Laura Cardone to score the go-ahead run. Rosenwinkel came in to score the third run on a failed pickoff by Charleston Southern's catcher as the throw down to third base sailed into the outfield.

In the top of the seventh, Charleston Southern collected three straight singles to start the inning. However, Gonzales quickly shut the door, getting the fourth batter to foul out, then struck out the next two batters to earn Saint Joseph's first win on the season and improve them to 1-1.

Individually, Cardone went 3-for-6 from the plate with two runs scored, while Darreff collected two RBI on the day. On the mound, Gonzales went 1-1 with a 2.10 earned-run average while allowing four runs on 14 hits, while striking out eight.

Saint Joseph's returns to action tomorrow versus Bucknell and host Campbell beginning at 5:30 p.m.