WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Saint Joseph's softball team fell to Fordham in the title game of the 2016 Atlantic 10 Championship on Sunday.
In the double-elimination tournament, the Hawks advanced to the title game through the winner's bracket having gone undefeated entering the day. Unfortunately for the Hawks, top seeded Fordham won the opener, 4-3, in eight innings and followed with a 5-1 win in the winner-take-all title game.
For Saint Joseph's seniors Brandi Harkness, Cyndi Wilson and Sarah Yoos alonside freshman Amanda Kulp were named to the A-10 All-Championship Team.
In the day's decisive game, Fordham opened a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Jessica Hughes scored from third on a bases-loaded force out by Morgan Figueroa.
The Rams added to their lead in the fourth as Jessica Hughes scored from second as a throwing error by Saint Joseph's to third base allowed her to reach home safely.
An inning later, Fordham extended its lead to 3-0 on an RBI single by Madison Shaw that scored Sydney Canessa.
Saint Joseph's rallied in the top of the sixth as a double to right field by Sarah Yoos scored Amanda Kulp from first to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Rams added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth and held SJU off the board in the seventh to claim their fourth straight A-10 crown.
Rookie Ashley Ventura was charged with the loss, falling to 14-11 on the year.
In the opener, the Rams extended the tournament to the final game, winning 4-3 in the eighth inning.
With the game knotted at 3-3, Fordham had runners at first and second when Amy Van Hoven sliced a single up the middle, scoring Cailin Winokur to push the championship to another game.
Fordham jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first behind a two-run home run by Lindsay Mayer off SJU starter Madison Clarke.
The Rams extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Jessica Hughes as Madison Shaw scored from second, beating the throw home by SJU centerfielder Kulp.
Wilson got a run back with her 10th home run of the season in the top of the fourth. The starting first baseman's solo shot to left moved her into a tie for second for most home runs in a single season.
An inning later, Yoos struck with her third home run of the tournament, drilling a two-run shot to center field to tie the game at 3-3.
For the game, Yoos was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. In the circle, Ventura was the hard-luck loser, allowing one earned run on three hits over 1.2 innings. Senior Anna Lauterbach worked 3.2 scoreless innings, while Clarke was charged with three earned runs over 2.1 innings, but didn't factor in the decision.
Game Notes: Yoos capped the season with a new SJU single-season record for home runs with 13...With a home run in game one, Yoos moved into a tie for fifth all-time alongside former teammate Monica Aguilar with 20 and finished third in RBIs (121)...Harkness finished her career 26th all-time in career hits with 135, while Yoos tied for 17th with 162...Kulp capped her rookie campaign matching Dana Parks for second most stolen bases in a season with 20...Lauterbach finished her career tied for the all-time lead in saves (10) and set a new single-season mark this year with eight.
