Feb. 19, 2011

Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. - The Saint Joseph's softball team bounced back in the second day of the Kickin' Chicken Classic, posting wins over Bucknell and James Madison Saturday afternoon to improve to 2-2 on the year.

The Hawks opened Saturday plating a pair of runs in the top of the first. Senior Laura Cardone scored first as junior Bernadette Moran reached on an error by Bucknell's shortstop. Moran would give SJU a 2-0 edge on a RBI single by sophomore Rochelle Christman.

A RBI single in the top of the third by Dana Bieniek plated junior Monica Aguilar, with Aguilar drawing her second bases-loaded walk of the year in the top of the fourth to give SJU a 4-0 edge.

The Bison got to SJU starter Erin Gallagher for a run in the fourth, but the Hawks exploded for four runs in the top of the fifth. Sophomore Deanna Stinner drilled a two-run double that score Aguilar and junior Alaina Loguidice, with Taylor Korpita and Lindsey Williams following with RBI singles to open a 8-1 advantage.

Bucknell would answer with four in the bottom of the inning but redshirt junior Lauren Pembleton closed out the game with a strikeout to preserve the win.

Facing James Madison for the second time in as many days, Saint Joseph's jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third as sophomore Dana Parks scored on a double by Cardone.

James Madison would take a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth, but the Hawks answered right back in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Maria Ficca drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the score at two, with Parks following with a game-winning RBI that scored Stinner.

From there, Gallagher shutdown James Madison batters, allowing just four runners to reach base over the final three innings to help SJU move to 2-2 on the year.

The Hawks cap play Sunday against host Coastal Carolina.