May 13, 2011

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Saint Joseph's sophomore Rochelle Christman's bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 11th led the Hawks to a 3-2 victory over fifth-seeded Charlotte Friday afternoon at the Atlantic 10 Softball Championship at the D.L. Phillips Complex. Saint Joseph's, which collected 13 hits but stranded 22 runners, advances to play second-seeded Massachusetts at 7 p.m.

With the score tied at 2-2, Saint Joseph's freshman Maria Ficca drew a leadoff walk and moved to second as junior Bernadette Moran was hit by a pitch. Following a walk to junior Monica Aguilar, Charlotte's ace Katy Hackett induced a pop out for the innings second out. Christman, who collected the team's second RBI in the sixth, slapped a shot into shallow right field, allowing Ficca to score the game-winning run.

Charlotte (30-24) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, taking advantage of a Saint Joseph's error. With runners at first and second and two out, Kalie Lang slapped a shot to second that was mishandled, allowing Tenaya Tucker to score from second.

The Hawks (30-15) led off the bottom of the inning with back to back singles by sophomore Dana Parks and senior Laura Cardone, but failed to score. Following a sacrifice bunt by junior Bernadette Moran, classmate Monica Aguilar loaded the bases. Unfortunately for SJU, the 49ers got Parks out at home on a fielder's choice and Charlotte's Katy Hackett struck out Rochelle Christman to end the threat.

Saint Joseph's got on the board in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 1-1. Moran led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Following a ground out, Christman delivered the game-tying blow, lining a shot off the top of the glove of Charlotte's third baseman Lindsey Holloman that landed safely in left field, allowing Moran to score.

Parks set the single-season mark for hits (67) with an infield single to the shortstop with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Cardone followed with a single, but SJU again left runners on base as Charlotte induced a fly out and ground out to end the inning.

The Hawks again threatened in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with no outs. Charlotte's Hackett again loomed large, posting three strikeouts to end the threat.

In the top of the sixth regained the lead scoring once to take a 2-1 lead. Charlotte's Kendra McCall was hit by a pitch with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Erin Gallagher. Following a pop out and an intentional walk, Charlotte loaded the bases as Jalisa Rock drew a full-count walk. Lorena Vela delivered for the 49ers, singling to left field, scoring McCall, while Kalie Lang was thrown out at home to end the inning.

Saint Joseph's answered back though, tying the game in the home portion of the inning. Cardone led off the bottom of the sixth with a bunt single, while Moran followed with a double of the center field wall, placing runners in scoring position. Aguilar followed with a four-pitch walk, giving senior Dana Bieniek a chance to tie the score or put SJU ahead. The senior came through as Charlotte's second baseman couldn't handle the hard-hit ball, allowing Cardone to score and Bieniek to reach safely.

Following a foul out to first base by Christman, Hackett got sophomore Deanna Stinner to pop up to center field and senior Taylor Korpita to fly out to left to keep the damage to a minimum. Junior Alaina Loguidice led off the bottom of the seventh with a double that nicked the third baseman's glove. Following a pop out, Cardone advanced Loguidice to third on a single to right field. Hackett got Moran to fly out to shallow right and followed with a walk to Aguilar. With the winning run at third, Hackett again avoided trouble as she got Bieniek to ground into a fielder's choice.

Saint Joseph's would strand four runners in the next three innings before coming through in the 11th.

Individually, sophomore Taryn Ashway earned the win, working 0.2 of an inning and inducing a game-saving double play in the top of the 11th. Gallagher went 10.1. innings of work, allowing just two runs, one of them earned, on five hits, while striking out five.

At the plate, Stinner went 3-for-5, while Loguidice, Christman, Cardone and Parks each added two hits apiece. Aguilar set a career-high with five walks.