March 17, 2012

Box Score

DOVER, Del. - The Saint Joseph's softball split its doubleheader at Delaware State on Saturday. The Hawks fell 5-4 in the opened but got a dominant performance in game two as junior Taryn Ashway allowed just one hit in a 10-0 victory.

In game two, the Hawks opened a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a two-run double by freshman Melissa Ruf that scored Morgan Earling and Maria Ficca.

Saint Joseph's blew the game open in the fifth, plating seven runs. Ruf and Earling each drove in two runs during the inning, while junior Dana Parks, senior Bernadette Moran and freshman Lauren Rendon added a RBI apiece.

The Hawks would add a final run the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by senior Erin Gallagher that plated Traneya White.

On the mound, Ashway dominated, holding the Hornets without a hit over the opening four innings, before surrendering a leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth. It wouldn't matter though as Ashway retired the next three in order to pick up the win. She finished the game with six strikeouts and no walks, while allowing just the one hit.

In the opener, the Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Junior Dana Parks and senior Bernadette Moran scored on a RBI single by junior Rochelle Christman to open the scoring, while freshman Lauren Rendon scored on a fielding error off a ball hit by sophomore Maria Ficca.

Delaware State would strike back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs off SJU starter Erin Gallagher.

Ficca put the Hawks back on top in the top of the fifth, smashing a solo home run to right center with two outs.

The Hornets would rally though in the bottom of the seventh, taking advantage of two SJU errors to win the game on a two-run single with only one out.

The Hawks return to action this Wednesday when they open their new home, the SJU Softball Field, on the Maguire Campus. First pitch is at 3 p.m. against Rider, with a pregame ceremony slated to begin prior to that.