May 13, 2010

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - Putting together a solid effort against top-seeded Massachusetts, the Saint Joseph's softball team couldn't pull off the upset Thursday afternoon, falling 3-0 to the Minutewomen at the Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Hawks will now face Saint Louis at 4 p.m. in an elimination game.

Massachusetts scored its first run in the bottom of the second on a RBI double by Kyllie Magill off SJU freshman pitcher Taryn Ashway.

Sarah Reeves' solo home run in the bottom of the third made it a 2-0 game.

The Hawks (28-17) got a lead-off single by junior Laura Cardone to start the fourth, but A-10 Pitcher of the Year Sara Plourde retired the next three SJU batters in order to quell any scoring chance.

Reeves added her second homer of the game in the sixth to make it a 3-0 game, with Plourde closing the game out with a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh.

The Hawks, who got singles from Cardone, freshman Dana Parks and sophomore Bernadette Moran, will now try to make its way through the elimination bracket to advance to the A-10 title game. SJU accomplished that feat last year before falling to Massachusetts in the championship round.

Ashway was the hard-luck loser, allowing three runs on six hits, while striking out three. She moves to 5-9 on the season with the loss.

OF NOTE: Saint Joseph's topped Saint Louis, 5-2, in 11 innings in the A-10 Tournament's opening game on Wednesday.