MERION STATION, Pa. - Saint Joseph's softball team opened its three-game series with Massachusetts in strong form on Saturday as the Hawks slugged past the Minutewomen, 14-5, in five innings on Saturday afternoon.
Up 11-5 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Hawks got two runners on quickly and freshman Nikki Alden delivered the decisive hit, smacking a three-run homer to cap the mercy-ruled victory. As a team, SJU collected 14 runs on 11 hits and improved to 17-6 overall and 3-0 in the Atlantic 10 with the win.
Massachusetts opened the scoring in the first inning on an error by the Hawks. After a leadoff single, the Minutewomen's Quianna Diaz-Patterson moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, then broke for third, drawing an errant throw by SJU allowing her to score to make it 1-0.
Saint Joseph's answered back in its first chance in the bottom of the first as the Hawks scored twice courtesy of an error and bases-loaded walk. Madeline Brunck led off the bottom half with a double down the left field line and came around to score on a single by Melissa Ruf as the Massachusetts left fielder misplayed the ball. After loading the bases with two outs, rookie Nikki Alden hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Ruf for 2-1 lead.
The Hawks blew the game open in the bottom of the second as they scored five runs with two outs to push ahead 7-1.
A RBI single up the middle by Nicole Palase scored Ruf to start, followed by a double over the center fielder's head by Brandi Harkness that scored Palase. Sarah Yoos then doubled to center scoring Harkness to push lead to 5-1, while Ashley Alden hit her team-leading ninth home run of the year, scoring Yoos to push the lead to 7-1.
The Minutewomen struck for four runs on three home runs in the top of the third to cut SJU's lead to 7-4, but the Hawks answered in the bottom half of the inning with four of their own.
Brunck plated the first run of the inning on a bloop single to left field that scored Isabella Picard. After a pop up and walk by Palase, Harkness delivered the biggest blow, smacking a three-run homr run over the center field wall to open an 11-5 advantage.
The score would remain the same as SJU rookie pitcher Madison Clarke kept the Minutewomen at bay, allowing for the dramatic ending.
Clarke improved to 13-2 on the season, allowing four earned runs over five innings while striking out seven. Brunck, Harkness, Ashley Alden and Yoos each finished with two hits apiece, while Harkness and Nikki Alden added four RBI each.
The Hawks and Minutewomen cap the weekend series on Sunday with a doubleheader starting at noon.
