May 9, 2012

Box Score

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The sixth-seeded Saint Joseph's softball team advanced to the second day of the Atlantic 10 Championship with a 6-0 victory over third-seed Temple Wednesday afternoon at the Billiken Sports Center. The Hawks will now face second-seed Fordham at 4:30 p.m. EST on Thursday.

The Hawks (21-27-1) opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the second following a fielding error by Temple with two outs. Saint Joseph's freshman left fielder Melissa Ruf began the scoring as her hit up the third base line went between the legs of the Temple defender, allowing senior Alaina Loguidice to score from second to make it 1-0.

Junior center fielder Dana Parks made it a 2-0 game as she scored from third on a passed ball. Ruf would make it 3-0 as she scored from second on a RBI single to center field by classmate Lauren Rendon.

Saint Joseph's added to its lead in the top of the fourth as Loguidice scored from third on a RBI single by senior second baseman Bernadette Moran.

Loguidice put the Hawks up 5-0 in the top of the fifth with a double to deep center field, allowing sophomore right fielder Maria Ficca to score from first.

Junior third baseman Rochelle Christman added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as she led off with a solo home run to make it 6-0.

In the circle, senior pitcher Erin Gallagher was dominant, scattering three hits over seven innings, while striking out two for the complete game shutout. With the win, she improves to 11-14 on the year and increases her all-time wins record to 65.

At the plate, Rendon, Parks and Christman each had two hits apiece, while Loguidice led SJU with two runs scored.