April 20, 2012

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - Despite a pair of solo home runs from freshman catcher Lauren Rendon, the Saint Joseph's softball team couldn't get past Atlantic 10-leading Massachusetts on Friday afternoon, falling 8-2.

Rendon, the Hawks' leader in home runs entering the day, slammed her first homer of the day over the left field wall in the top of the second, and added her team-leading eighth homer in the top of the seventh to right center.

Unfortunately for SJU, the host Minutewomen opened the scoring with four runs in the bottom of the first off SJU senior pitcher Erin Gallagher to take control of the game.

Gallagher rebounded though and with Rendon's homer, the Hawks remained within three, 4-1, through the first four innings.

Massachusetts would break the game open though in the bottom of the fifth with four more runs, taking advantage of a SJU error to keep the inning alive.

Rendon's second homer made it 8-2 in the top of the seventh, but SJU couldn't get much more of a rally as the Minutewomen worked around a one-out base runner to win the game.

Rendon accounted for two of the Hawks' three hits on the day, with sophomore Maria Ficca picking up the third with a bunt single in the third.

Gallagher was the hard-luck loser after allowing nine hits over six innings, while striking out five.

The Hawks and Minutewomen wrap up the series Saturday at noon.