March 14, 2010

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Saint Joseph's softball team capped its Spring Break trip with a 2-1 mark at this weekend's University of South Florida Under Armour Showcase. The Hawks posted wins over Boston University and Maine on Saturday, but fell to New Mexico State on Sunday.

In the opener against Boston University, the Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third. Sophomore Monica Aguilar singled in classmate Alaina Loguidice to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead, with senior Brooke Darreff's double driving in Aguilar and freshman Dana Parks to give SJU three-run lead.

Boston University struck back for an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning against SJU starter Erin Gallagher. Erica Casacci singled with two outs and advanced to second on a fielding error by the Hawks' left fielder. On the following at-bat, she came around to score on another SJU error, cutting the SJU lead to 3-1.

Gallagher settled and threw a scoreless fourth, before handing over the final three inning to rookie Taryn Ashway. Ashway did her part, retiring the next nine BU batters in order, while SJU junior Taylor Korpita smacked her first career home run to make the final score 4-1.

In Saturday's nightcap, the Hawks needed extra innings to get past Maine.

The Black Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third and added a run in the fourth to extend their lead to 3-0.

The Hawks answered back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at three all. Freshman Rochelle Christman and sophomore Bernadette Moran each picked up RBI singles, with Moran scoring the tying run on a errant throw on a passed-ball strikeout.

Gallagher, who entered the game in the fourth, kept Maine off the board the next four innings, which included a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh and a pair of runners on base in the eighth.

Behind stellar pitching, the Hawks ended the game in their first at bat of the extra frame. With Loguidice at second, Parks singled to advance her teammate to third. Junior Laura Cardone followed with a game-winning RBI single to give Saint Joseph's the walk-off victory.

In Sunday's matchup, Saint Joseph's couldn't carry its magic from the previous night over into a second straight extra-inning affair. The Hawks and New Mexico State went to eight innings, but the Aggies tallied a run in the bottom of the eighth to earn the 4-3 win over SJU.

Saint Joseph's returns to action this Tuesday with a doubleheader at Penn. Game one is set for a 2:30 p.m. start.