April 28, 2009

Box Score

VILLANOVA - Behind dominant performances on the mound from senior Dani Gonzales and freshman Erin Gallagher, the Saint Joseph's softball team swept its doubleheader at Villanova Tuesday, 3-0 and 2-1. The pitching-duo allowed just six Wildcat hits and fanned eight batters.

In the opener, Saint Joseph's jumped out to a 2-0 edge in the top of the fourth. Senior Erika Rosenwinkel drilled her team-leading seventh homer of the season to put SJU up 1-0, while pinch runner Hannah Adams would come around to score on a throwing error by Villanova's catcher as she stole third.

The Hawks added an insurance run in the top of the fifth, as sophomore Dana Bieniek scored on a RBI single by Brooke Darreff.

The three runs were all Gonzales needed as she struck out two, while allowing just three hits to improve to 12-11 on the year.

In game two, Gallagher was equally impressive, holding the Wildcats' offense at a distance.

Villanova jumped out to a 1-0 edge in the bottom of the second on a RBI single by Tessa Braga.

But that's all Gallagher would allow as she held Villanova without a hit over the final five innings, allowing her teammates to get SJU ahead.

Saint Joseph's took the lead in the top of the fifth as Gonzales, playing first base in the game, drilled a two-run double, scoring Bieniek and Rosenwinkel to give SJU a 2-1 edge.

Despite allowing three Wildcats to reach on errors in the final innings, including two runners in the bottom of the seventh. Gallagher was steady though, inducing Natalie Hord to ground out to Gonzales to end the game.

Gallagher improved to 7-6 on the year after allowing one run, on three hits, while striking out six.

The wins imrpoves the Hawks' record to 21-18 on the season with an all-important regular-season finale at St. Bonaventure this Friday and Saturday. One victory this weekend would clinch a spot in next week's Atlantic 10 Tournament for SJU.

***Photos from today's game available at www.sidephotos.com.