March 4, 2012

Box Score

(By Nikki Philpot)

SAN DIEGO - The Saint Joseph's women's softball team fell to Utah State, 4-3, in its final game of the San Diego Classic on Sunday afternoon.

Saint Joseph's (5-7) struck early as senior leadoff hitter Bernadette Moran singled down the left field line and junior Dana Parks beat out a bunt single. Both runners advanced one base on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Melissa Ruf and classmate Lauren Rendon drove a RBI single through the left side to plate Moran for the first run of the ballgame. Junior Shannon Kramer reached on a fielder's choice to right field and picked up the RBI as Parks, who advanced to third on Rendon's single, scored for the Hawks to put them ahead, 2-0.

The Hawks would strike again in the top of the second as freshman Nicole Palase led off the inning with a two-strike triple to center and later scored on a Moran ground-rule double to right field.

Down 3-0, Utah State (8-8) exploded for four runs in the bottom half of the third inning. A single followed by back-to-back walks loaded the bases for an SJU fielding error that scored two runs for the Aggies. Utah State sacrifice flied to drive another run and took advantage of another Hawk fielding error to score the fourth run of the inning before junior Taryn Ashway came in to relieve starting pitcher Erin Gallagher as she got the next two Aggies to ground out.

The Hawks would go hitless in the final three innings as Utah State would come away with the win, 4-3.

Moran and Parks each went 2-for-4 while adding an RBI and scoring a run apiece. Rendon and Kramer each had one hit and one RBI for the Hawks while Palase chipped in a hit and scored one run.

Gallagher dropped to 4-5 as she allowed four runs on four hits and walked three in two and one-third innings of work.

Saint Joseph's returns to action on Saturday, March 10 as they face Loyola Marymount in the Amy S. Harrison Classic. Game time is scheduled for 12:00pm ET.