April 1, 2012

Box Score

(By Nikki Philpot)

PHILADELPHIA - Freshman Lauren Rendon made the first home run at the newly opened SJU Softball Field a memorable one, blasting a three-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Saint Joseph's softball team over La Salle, 4-1, in Game One of an Atlantic 10 conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at the SJU Softball Field. Saint Joseph's took Game Two, 11-1 in five innings behind a one-hitter by junior Taryn Ashway.

Saint Joseph's (12-16 overall, 4-0 Atlantic 10) struck first as freshman Nicole Palase led off the bottom of the first inning with a double down the right field line. Palase then stole third and scored later in the inning on a double steal attempt. Senior Bernadette Moran broke for second and on the throw down to second, Palase broke for home and slid in safely before the tag to put the Hawks ahead, 1-0.

Saint Joseph's would keep the lead until the top of the seventh. La Salle (3-23 overall, 0-4 Atlantic 10) struck back as Alicia Aughton led off the inning with a double to right-center. Saint Joseph's senior Erin Gallagher got the next batter to ground out before La Salle's Kati Cooper singled to right field to advance pinch runner Danielle Cullen to third. With runners on the corners for the Explorers, Gallagher struck out pinch hitter Kristin Travers, but Tristan Musho singled to right to drive in Cullen and tie the game, 1-1.

The Hawks would not score in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.

Gallagher retired La Salle in order in the top of the eighth as the Explorers all hit into groundouts.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, junior Dana Parks reached on an error by the shortstop and Moran singled to second base to put runners on first and second for SJU. Rendon then blasted a home run to left field to seal the victory for the Hawks, 4-1.

Rendon led Saint Joseph's with two hits, a run scored, and three RBI. Palase, Parks, and Moran each had one hit and scored one run for the Hawks while junior Rochelle Christman had a strong defensive game and finished with one hit.

Senior Erin Gallagher (6-9) went the distance, scattering just five hits and allowing one earned run in eight innings of work.

In Game Two, Saint Joseph's once again jumped on the board early. With Parks and Moran on third and second after back-to-back singles, Rendon came through with her third hit of the day on a single up the middle to score Parks and advance Moran to third. A sacrifice fly to right field by Christman allowed Moran to score as Rendon advanced to third. Sophomore Maria Ficca then singled to score Rendon and give the Hawks a 3-0 lead.

La Salle scored its lone run of the game in the top half of the second as Kati Cooper homered to left field to put the Explorers on the board, 3-1.

The Hawks responded with a five-run second inning that began with a single by junior Deanna Stinner. A sacrifice bunt by senior Alaina Loguidice advanced Stinner to second and freshman Melissa Ruf doubled to centerfield to score Stinner. Parks singled but a La Salle throwing error allowed her and Ruf to score another two runs for the Hawks to strengthen SJU's lead, 6-1. A Rendon double and back-to-back RBI triples from Christman and Palase gave the Hawks an 8-1 lead heading into the third inning.

Saint Joseph's would tack on three more runs in the bottom of the third as Stinner led off the inning with a single. Loguidice walked and Ruf forced a throwing error that allowed freshman pinch runner Taylor McGorry to score the Hawk's ninth run of the game. Ruf would score on a past ball and with the bases loaded, Palase drew a walk that allowed sophomore Morgan Earling to score the third run of the inning, extending Saint Joseph's lead and capping the victory, 11-1.

Parks and Rendon each had two hits and scored two runs in the win. Stinner added two hits and a run scored while five other Hawks added one hit each. Christman and Palase each had two RBI for SJU.

Ashway gave up just one hit, a solo home run, and struck out six batters in five innings of work.

The Hawks return to action this Thursday when they host Fordham at 3 p.m.

**Photos from today's game are available at www.sidephotos.com.