May 12, 2010

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - In a game very similar to its their first meeting in March, the Saint Joseph's softball team went to extra innings against Saint Louis in the opening game of the Atlantic 10 Championship Wednesday at the UMass Softball Complex. Unlike that first meeting, the fifth-seeded Hawks came out on the winning end, scoring three times in the 11th innings to earn a 5-2 victory over the fourth-seeded Billikens.

Saint Joseph's, which improved to 28-16 on the year with the win, will now face top-seeded Massachusetts at noon on Thursday.

With the game knotted at two all, Saint Joseph's broke the game open in the top of the 11th, scoring three runs to take a 5-2 lead. Senior catcher Brooke Darreff reached on a fielding error by Saint Louis' third baseman Rachel Falletto to start the inning and moved to second as SJU sophomore third baseman Monica Aguilar drew a walk. After moving into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, the two Hawk runners came around to score on a single down the right field line by freshman Deanna Stinner.

Stinner, who moved to second on her hit thanks to a throwing error, came around to score the Hawks' fifth run on a two-out single by sophomore Alaina Loguidice.

Holding its biggest lead of the game, Saint Joseph's allowed the Billikens to put the go-ahead run at the plate in the bottom of the 11th. Saint Joseph's sophomore pitcher Erin Gallagher began the inning with her 17th strikeout on the day, but gave up a one-out single to Kristin Nicoletti. Following a ground out, Saint Louis' Tori Holland singled to third base, brining the tying run to the plate.

Working carefully to the Billikens' clean-up hitter Laura Bohning, Gallagher walked Bohning to load the bases with two outs.

With the game riding on the next at-bat, Gallagher caught Nicki Jost looking for the final out of the game. Gallagher capped a stupendous day in the circle with a career-best 18 strikeouts, four hits and zero earned runs while improving to 23-8 overall.

In a game that lasted two hours and 52 minutes, the Hawks got out to a fast start, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first against Saint Louis' pitcher Kelcie Matesa. Saint Joseph's freshman Dana Parks was hit by a pitch to start the game and advanced to second as junior Laura Cardone drew a walk. Following a sacrifice bunt and pop up, Aguilar smacked a two-run single to right field to give the Hawks the early lead.

An Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team selection, Gallagher began baffling Saint Louis batters early on. The Hawks' ace allowed one hit over the opening six innings, while striking out 12 batters.

Needing just three outs to advance, Saint Joseph's allowed the Billikens to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh.

Faletto reached on an error by Aguilar to start the bottom of the inning and moved to second on a one-out walk by Bohning. The two runners would advance on a ground out to shortstop by Jost.

One out away from advancing, the Billikens' Caitlin Trevillyan singled to centerfield, scoring two on the play to tie the game.

Gallagher made sure Saint Louis would do more damage, striking out Brittney Schmidt to end the inning and force extra innings.

The Hawks had a chance to take the lead in the top of the ninth as Aguilar and freshman Rochelle Christman hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. After moving up on a sacrifice bunt, Saint Joseph's tried to take the lead on a squeeze bunt by freshman Juliette D'Ambrosio. Unfortunately for the Hawks, Saint Louis' first baseman Kelly Flanagan fielded the ball quickly and threw home in time to tag out Aguilar.

Gallagher continued to baffle the Billikens' batters in extra frames, allowing just one base runner between the eighth and 10th innings before finishing the game off with a strikeout in the 11th.

At the plate, Parks went 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Aguilar finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

Saint Louis finished the game 4-for-37 at the plate for a .108 batting average.

OF NOTE: Saint Louis won the first meeting this season between the two clubs 2-0 in 12 innings...Gallagher had a 16 strikeouts in the losing effort that day...This is the third year in a row Saint Joseph's has advanced to the second day of play at the Atlantic 10 Tournament.