MERION STATION, Pa. - The Saint Joseph's softball team split its Atlantic 10 opening doubleheader with Saint Louis on Saturday at the SJU Softball Field. Backed by a complete-game shutout from junior Madison Clarke, the Hawks won game two, 9-0, in five innings after falling 8-3 in the opener.
In game two, Saint Joseph's struck first as the host Hawks took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. A throwing error by Saint Louis' pitcher Kaylea Chappelle plated the first run as Amanda Kulp scored from second on the misplayed bunt attempt by Sarah Ostaszewski. Stacey Mayer followed with a two-run double to left center that scored Jancarla Herrera and Ostaszewski to make it 3-0.
Saint Joseph's pushed its lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the second as the Hawks scored four runs on four hits. Rookie pinch hitter Caela Abadie got things going for SJU with a pinch-hit two-run double that scored Molly Kapala and Kulp. Ostaszewski and Mayer each followed with RBI doubles to push the Hawks' lead to seven.
Clarke helped her cause in the bottom of the third as she led off with her first career home run, while Ostaszewski later plated Kulp with a two-out single to make it 9-0.
The nine runs were more than enough for Clarke to work with in the circle as she scattered four hits over five innings and struck out three to improve to 2-4 on the year.
At the plate, Mayer and Kulp were both 3-for-3, with Kulp adding three runs batted in and Kulp scoring three times. Additionally, Ostaszewski finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
In game one, Saint Louis took an early 2-0 lead as the Billikens took advantage of four walks issued by SJU starter Ashley Ventura in the top of the first. Alex Nickel put Saint Louis up 1-0 as she scored on single by Mackenzie Peter, while two batters later, Emma Buckles came around to score on a bases loaded walk issued to Hailey Weavers.
Allie Macfarlane extended the Saint Louis lead to 3-0 in the top of the third with a leadoff home run to right center.
Behind three hits and three walks, Saint Joseph's rallied to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth. Pinch runner Jancarla Herrera scored the first run of the inning as she dashed home from second base off a sharply hit ball by Kaylyn Zierke that deflected off the glove of Saint Louis' first baseman. Raelynn Genovese followed with a single up the middle that scored Stacey Mayer to make it 3-2. After a walk to Taryn Grober that loaded the bases, Molly Kapala drew the Hawks' third walk of the inning, scoring Zierke from third to even the score.
Saint Louis regained the lead in the top of the sixth as it plated five runs to take an 8-3 edge. Josie Knesel scored the first Billikens run on a fielding error by the Hawks as they misplayed a sacrifice bunt by Alex Nickel. With runners at the corners three batters later, Macfarlane connected on her second home run of the game to put her team ahead by four. Mackenzie Peter later extended Saint Louis' advantage to 8-3 on a single by Hailey Weavers.
For the game, Zierke went 2-for-3 with an RBI, with Genovese and Kapala each adding an RBI apiece. In the circle, Abigail Stroud fell to 0-3 on the year as she allowed three earned runs on two hits and added two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of relief
The Hawks and Billikens cap their three-game series with a single game set for a noon start on Sunday.
