March 24, 2013

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's softball team opened the Atlantic 10 portion of its schedule with two strong showings in sweeping a doubleheader at La Salle on Sunday. The Hawks took the opener 7-1 and won the nightcap, 8-0, to improve to 15-3-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

In game one, the Hawks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second as senior Rochelle Christman singled home rookie Brandi Harkness.

La Salle took advantage of a SJU error in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 1-1, but the Hawks broke the game open in the third with six runs.

Sophomore Nicole Palase homers with one out to make it 2-1, while a junior Morgan Earling's single later in the inning plated freshman Sarah Yoos and Monica Aguilar to make it 4-1.

Junior Maria Ficca delivered the decisive blow two batters later, slamming a three-run home run over the left center wall to make it a 7-1 game.

A six-run lead was more than enough for starter Taryn Ashway as the senior posted the complete-game victory while allowing just five hits with nine strikeouts to improve to 12-1.

In the second game, Harkness put Saint Joseph's up 1-0 in the second on a RBI double that scored Aguilar.

Christman added the second RBI of the game in the fourth as her single to shortstop scored Yoos.

In the circle, rookie Liz Mendez kept the Explorers at a distance, allowing just three hits over the first four innings.

Another six-run inning proved to be the game-changing moment in game two as well as Saint Joseph's scored six in the fifth inning to make it an 8-0 game.

Sophomore Melissa Ruf led off with a home run to left field, while Yoos followed three batters later with a two RBI single that scored Palase and pinch runner Kerrie Kortmann.

Following the first out and a walk, Christman drilled a three-run home run to center field to make it an 8-0 lead.

Needing three outs to earn the mercy-rule win, the Hawks' Mendez gave up two singles to start the inning. Making a switch and bringing in Ashway, Saint Joseph's would close out the game from there. Ashway set down the next three La Salle batters in order with three consecutive strikeouts to end the game.

Mendez earned the win while allowing just five hits and striking out three.

The Hawks return to action Wednesday with a doubleheader versus Delaware at the SJU Softball Field.