March 26, 2011

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Saint Joseph's offense came alive as the Hawks accounted for 18 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Rhode Island Saturday afternoon at the Villanova Softball Field. The Hawks mercy-ruled the Rams, 8-0, in five innings in the opener, and out-slugged URI 10-4 in the second contest.

Taking advantage of inconsistent pitching in the opener, the Hawks tallied two runs in the bottom of the first thanks to a trio of walks and a hit-by-pitch. With the bases loaded and two outs, sophomore Rochelle Christman drew a bases-loaded walk to score Bernadette Moran. Saint Joseph's sophomore Shannon Kramer followed , and with a two ball, two strike count, was hit by an errant pitch, scoring Monica Aguilar for the Hawks' second run.

The Hawks would add to their lead in the bottom of the second, scoring four to open a 6-0 advantage. Moran plated the first run on a bases-loaded single that scored junior Alaina Loguidice. A fielder's choice ground out by Monica Aguilar scored Dana Parks to make it 4-0, while a Kramer sacrifice fly scored senior Laura Cardone to up the lead to five runs. Christman capped the inning with a RBI single to center field that scored Moran.

Up by six, Saint Joseph's would get two runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the mercy-rule in effect. Sophomore Deanna Stinner drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs, scoring Aguilar to make it a 7-0 game. Coming in to pinch hit, senior Taylor Korpita singled to right field, allowing Kramer to score the eighth run.

Junior Erin Gallagher would make the eight-run gap hold, as she capped a dominant performance, retiring the Rams in order. She'd finish with 10 strikeouts, while allowing just one hit for her 12th win of the season.

In the nightcap, the Rams jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but the Hawks answered in the bottom half of the inning as Kramer led off with a homer to to center field.

Saint Joseph's (18-10, 3-1 Atlantic 10) took its first lead in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, and runners on the corners, sophomore Deanna Stinner grounded to second base. However, the Rams' second baseman tagged out Kramer as she ran from first to second, but threw off the mark, allowing Stinner to reach safely and Aguilar to score from third.

The Hawks would truly break it open in the fifth with four runs, boosted by a two-run homer by Christman. Aguilar and Kramer also added a RBI.

Gallagher, who entered the game in relief in the fourth, allowed two runs in the sixth, but her teammates had her back, adding four more runs in the sixth. Alaina Loguidice scored the first run as she stole home as Rhode Island attempted to catch the Hawks' Moran leading off following a pitch at first.

Freshman Maria Ficca drove in the second run on a RBI single and would come around to score - along with Aguilar - on a wild pitch and error on the relay throw back to the plate.

Rhode Island (1-19, 0-4 A-10) would add an unearned run in seventh with one out, but Gallagher got a pair of ground outs to end the game and earn the win.

The Hawks return to action on Sunday as they host Massachusetts in a doubleheader beginning at noon.