May 10, 2013

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - The Saint Joseph's softball team fell in it's winner's bracket game to Fordham, 3-1, Friday morning at the Atlantic 10 Softball Championship at Sortino Field. The Hawks (35-9-1) will now face either Temple or Saint Louis in an elimination game at 3 p.m. today.

Versus the Rams, Fordham jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a RBI single by Elise Fortier that scored Jamie Labovick. Chelsea Palumbo would come in to make it 2-0 on a sacrifice fly by Michelle Daubman and Fortier would score shortly after from third base, sliding under a tag at home plate on a wild pitch.

Saint Joseph's would cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth. With runners on first ans second, freshman Brandi Harkness blooped a hit up the middle. Running on contact, senior Rochelle Christman reached third and rounded home. The relay throw home was in time, as Christman was tagged out, however the trailing runner, Morgan Earling, broke for third base. Drawing the throw down, Earling would reach safely and come around to score as the ball was overthrown into the outfield.

The Hawks had their chance to tie it in the sixth with runners at first and second and two outs. Unfortunately for SJU, Fordham worked out of trouble and in the seventh, stranded a Hawk runner at first to close out the game.

At the plate, Earling, Harkness and junior Maria Ficca accounted for the Hawks' three hits.

Starting pitcher Taryn Ashway (26-4) lost for just the fourth time this season, allowing three runs, while striking out three. over two innings. Freshman Liz Mendez, who came in in relief in the third, had no decision despite throwing five innings of shutout ball in which she allowed just one hit while striking out one and walking three.