MERION STATION, Pa. - The Saint Joseph's softball team completed its weekend sweep of Atlantic 10 rival Massachusetts with a pair of wins on Sunday at the SJU Softball Field. After winning the opener on Saturday, the Hawks took game two 10-2 in five innings on Sunday and followed with a 12-2 victory in five innings in game three.
In game two,senior first baseman Ashley Alden matched the SJU single season matching Christina Kowalski's mark of 10 that she set in 1998.
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the second, Alden would give her team the lead as she picked up her 10th home run as she followed Sarah Yoos' leadoff solo home run with her own down the right field line.
The Hawks would go on to score seven more runs on four hits and three walks to open a 9-1 lead after two innings.
Massachusetts got a run back in the top of the fourth, but SJU plated three runs in the bottom of the inning for the eventual 12-2 win.
Nikki Alden earned the victory, going all five innings to improve to 3-1.
In game one, a seven-run fifth inning lifted Saint Joseph's to a 10-2 win in a mercy-ruled shortened opening game.
Ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the first five Hawks reached safely to begin the offensive outbreak. Brandi Harkness and Sarah Yoos each picked up RBI singles, while Ashley Alden earned a RBI on a fielder's choice in which she reached safely to push the lead to 6-2. Following a pitching chance, Nikki Alden drew a bases load walk to score pinch runner Traneya White make it 7-2.
The Minutewomen would get a fielder's choice force out at home, but Isabella Picard scored Ashley Alden on a fielding error, while Nikki Alden came around to score on a Madeline Brunck fielder's choice as Massachusetts' catcher failed to touch the plate on the force play.
Needing just one run to force the mercy rule, Melissa Ruf drew a bases loaded walk, allowing Kerrie Kortmann to score the winning run from third.
Massachusetts started the game opening a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Quianna Diaz-Patterson led off with a home run to right field off SJU starter Madison Clarke.
Madeline Brunck gave the Hawks their first lead of the game with a two-run home run to center field, scoring Isabella Picard to make it 2-1.
Massachusetts tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI double by Olivia Godin.
A double down the right field line by Nikki Alden scored her sister, Ashley, from second to give SJU the lead again, 3-2.
At the plate, Brunck was 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Nikki Alden added a pair of RBIs.
In the circle, Clarke improved to 14-2 overall, allowing just two runs on three hits, while finishing with a pair of strike outs.
The Hawks return to action Wednesday with a doubleheader at Long Island Brooklyn.
