March 10, 2010

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Saint Joseph's softball team fell to Penn State, 6-3, Wednesday afternoon at a Eddie C. Moore Field. The Hawks cap their play in Florida this weekend at the University of South Florida Tournament Friday, opening with Boston University at 10:30 a.m.

Penn State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first against Saint Joseph's sophomore pitcher Erin Gallagher. With runners at the corners and the bases loaded, Gallagher got two straight strike outs, but gave up a walk to the Nittany Lions' Lauren Rossi, scoring Ashley Griffith.

Saint Joseph's (6-5) took advantage of a Penn State error in the bottom of the second to tie the game at one. Senior catcher Brooke Darreff walked to start the inning and advanced to second when freshman designated player Deanna Stinner was hit by a pitch. With two outs, junior Taylor Korpita struck out swinging, but the ball got past the Nittany Lions' catcher Danee Collett, loading the bases for sophomore first baseman Alaina Loguidice.

Loguidice delivered for the Hawks with a single up the middle, scoring Darreff on the play. Trying to give Saint Joseph's the lead, Stinner tried to score from second, but was cut down at the plate on a relay play from Cassidy Bell to Collett.

Penn State (13-7) regained the lead in the top of the fifth as Bell scored the go-ahead run. Following a lead-off single, Bell stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Gallagher. After a ground out by Collett, Bell scored on a RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Morgan Long.

The Nittany Lions extended their lead in the top of the sixth as Kailyn Johnson opened the inning with a double and scored on a single by Alyssa Renwick. Following a Saint Joseph's pitching change, Renwich scored on a bases-loaded infield single by Collett off Hawks' freshman reliever Taryn Ashway. Penn State added two more runs on a fielding error by the Hawks' first baseman, upping its lead to 6-1.

Saint Joseph's got a run back in the bottom of the sixth as freshman Rochelle Christman stole home to bring the Hawks within four.

The Hawks threatened in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners on at first and second with one out. Sophomore Bernadette Moran made it a 6-3 game with a single to left field that Penn State's Ashley Griffith misplayed, allowing classmate Monica Aguilar to score.

With the tying run at the plate, Penn State's Lisa Akamine got Stinner to ground out to third base to end the game.

Individually, Loguidice went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Aguilar picked up a pair of hits. Gallagher suffered the loss after allowing four earned runs, while striking out five.