MERION STATION, Pa. - Saint Joseph's senior Sarah Yoos hit two home runs and classmate Anna Lauterbach matched the program record for saves as the Saint Joseph's softball team swept a doubleheader from La Salle on Wednesday. The Hawks took the opener 3-1, and won the nightcap, 7-1, to improve to 18-22-1 overall and 6-10-1 in the Atlantic 10.
With her two homers on the day, Yoos moved into a tied for the third most in a single season, just one behind the record of 10 set by Christina Kowalski in 1998 and matched by Ashley Alden last year.
Lauterbach, who entered the year with two career saves, picked up her eighth of the year in game two, allowing just four hits over 2.2 innings to tie Taryn Ashway's all-time mark of 10.
In the opener, Yoos hit her eighth home run of the season and rookie pitcher Ashley Ventura allowed just two hits in a complete game victory.
Saint Joseph's took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as senior Cyndi Wilson scored from third off a single by Raelynn Genovese.
The Explorers ruined Ventura's no-hit bid in the top of the fifth as Suzanne Szanicke doubled to center to score Emma Schweigert to tie the game at 1-1.
Yoos answered for the Hawks in the bottom of the fifth, drilling a two-run home run to center field to give SJU a 3-1 lead.
Ventura would make the lead last, retiring the Explorers in order in the sixth and working around a one-out hit to finish the complete game win and improve to 9-7 on the season.
Individually, Yoos was 1-for-2 with two RBIs, while Wilson, Amanda Kulp and Madeline Brunck each picked up a pair of hits apiece. Ventura struck out four and walked one in her eighth complete game of the year.
In game two, Saint Joseph's took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Kaylyn Zierke doubled to right center, scoring Yoos all the way from first.
Senior Brandi Harkness led off the bottom of the fourth with her fifth home run of the season to put the Hawks ahead 2-0.
La Salle cut SJU's advantage to 2-1 in the top of the fifth as the Explorer scored a run off a fielding error by the Hawks with two outs.
Lauterbach, who replaced starter Madison Clarke earlier in the fifth fielded a grounder for the final out to end La Salle's threat.
Yoos helped the Hawks gain some breathing room in the bottom half of the inning, smacking a two run home run over the center field wall for her ninth of the year to push the lead to 4-1.
The Hawks broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth. Wilson led off the inning with a solo home run, while Erica Nugent delivered her first collegiate home run, hitting a two-run pinch hit shot that scored Kerrie Kortmann to make it 7-1.
Clarke picked up the win to improve to 7-7 after allowing three hits over 4.1 innings, while striking out four.
Saint Joseph's returns to action with a three-game series at George Washington this weekend. The Hawks and Colonials open play with a doubleheader slated for a noon start on Saturday.
