May 2, 2009

Box Score

OLEAN, N.Y. - The Saint Joseph's softball team received a dominant performance from sophomore pitcher Lauren Pembleton as the Hawks topped St. Bonaventure, 3-0, Saturday afternoon in SJU's final game of the regular season. Pembleton allowed just four hits, while striking out two to improve to 3-1 on the season and helped the Hawks secure at least fifth place in the Atlantic 10 Championship.

Saint Joseph's sophomore center fielder Laura Cardone led off the top of the first with a walk and promptly stole second to start the game. After a sacrifice bunt advanced Cardone to third, freshman third baseman Monica Aguilar hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, easily scoring Cardone to put SJU up 1-0.

After a scoreless second and third, the Hawks added to their lead in the top of the fourth as senior right fielder Erika Rosenwinkel drilled a solo home run to left center to put SJU up 2-0. The homer was the eighth of the season for Rosenwinkel, tying her for fifth most in Saint Joseph's single-season.

Up 2-0 in the top of the seventh, senior Dani Gonzales delivered her second solo home run in as many days, blasting a one-out pinch-hit homer over the fence in left-center field to give SJU a three-run advantage.

Needing just three outs, Pembleton retired the Bonnies in order in the bottom of the seventh to improve the Hawks' record to 23-18 on the season and 8-6 in Atlantic 10.

Individually, Cardone went 2-for-2 at the plate with a run scored, while Rosenwinkel and Gonzales each collected a run scored and RBI.

Saint Joseph's opens play at the Atlantic 10 Championship Wednesday afternoon at Fordham University's Bahoshy Field. Game times and matchups will not be set until after the conclusion of Sunday's other conference games.