WASHINGTON, D.C. - Saint Joseph's senior Brandi Harkness' grand slam helped lift the Hawks past third seeded Massachusetts, 5-2, in the semifinals of the 2016 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship on Saturday.
With the win, the Hawks (25-24-1) advance to Sunday's title game at noon.
Saint Joseph's opened the game behind a solo home run by senior Sarah Yoos in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead.
Massachusetts struck back in the bottom of the first though against SJU starter Ashley Ventura, tallying a run to knot the score at 1-1.
The game remained tied over the next three innings, leading to Harkness' heroics in the fifth.
With two outs, freshman Amanda Kulp started SJU's rally with a single, while Yoos followed with a single. A fielding error by Massachusetts' third baseman off a ball hit by Kaylyn Zierke brought Harkness to the plate with the bases loaded.
After fouling off the first pitch, Harkness connected on a shot that cleared the scoreboard in left center to give the Hawks a 5-1 lead.
The Minutewomen struck for a run in the bottom of the sixth against SJU reliever Anna Lauterbach, but the Hawks' senior got out of trouble and retired Massachusetts in order in the seventh to seal the win.
In the circle, Ventura improved to 14-8 after allowing two runs over 5.0 innings, while striking out four. Lauterbach worked 2.0 innings, striking out one.
At the plate, Yoos was 3-for-4 and added to her single-season record home run mark with her 12th. Kulp, Harkness and senior Cyndi Wilson also added two hits apiece.
