CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Junior catcher Kaylyn Zierke homered twice in her Saint Joseph's debut as the SJU softball team split its season opening games at the First Pitch Classic on Friday. The Hawks fell to Stony Brook, 3-1, in the opener, but bounced back for an 8-0 victory over Presbyterian in five innings.
Getting contributions at the plate and in the field through out, the Hawks picked up their first win of the season in Friday's second contest versus Presbyterian.
Saint Joseph's took advantage of a Blue Hose fielding mistake in the bottom of the first as Zierke and junior Madeline Brunck scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.
Making her collegiate debut, freshman pitcher Ashley Ventura was stellar in the circle as she allowed just three hits over the first four innings, allowing the SJU offense to take control.
Ahead 2-0, the Hawks upped their lead another run in the second as senior Cyndi Wilson scored on a RBI by Brunck.
Saint Joseph's combined for five runs in the third and fourth to push the edge to 8-0.
After a leadoff single by senior Brandi Harkness to start the third, classmate Sarah Yoos followed with a two-run home run.
Zierke picked up her second home run of the day in the fourth, drilling a three-run shot that scored Brunck and right fielder Raelynn Genovese to give Saint Joseph's an eight run advantage.
Ventura and Saint Joseph's defense would make the score stand as the rookie struck out a pair in the fifth inning, while Genovese gunned down the Blue Hose' Kelsie Sanchez try to score from second to end the game.
At the plate, Yoos went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored, while Zierke drove in a game-high three runs, and scored twice.
In the circle, Ventura earned her first collegiate win allowing just five hits over five innings, while striking out five.
In game one, the Hawks fell behind 2-0 as the Seawolves got on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the third and added to their lead with a RBI single in the fourth.
Saint Joseph's answered back in the top of the sixth though as Zierke drilled the first home run of her SJU career over the wall in left field to bring her team to within one, 2-1.
Unfortunately for the Hawks, Stony Brook added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and thwarted a seventh inning rally by SJU.
Sophomore Madison Clarke was the hard-luck loser for SJU, allowing only two earned runs on five hits, while striking out six over 5.1 innings of work.
Saint Joseph's (1-1) returns to action at the First pitch Classic on Saturday with a 10 a.m. game versus Presbyterian and a noon contest versus host Charlotte.
