MERION STATION, Pa. - Behind a 10-run third inning and stellar pitching from sophomore Ashley Ventura, the Saint Joseph's softball team downed Rhode Island, 11-0, in five innings on Sunday at the SJU Softball Field.

The Hawks (12-20, 6-3 Atlantic 10) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a two-out double down the left field line by Taryn Grober that scored Kaylyn Zierke.

Saint Joseph's broke the game open in the next inning as the Hawks scored 10 runs on eight hits.

Sophomore Amanda Kulp scored the first run as she came in to score from third on a passed ball with the bases loaded. Classmate Stacey Mayer followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Jancarala Herrea to make it 3-0.

An RBI single by by Madeline Brunck with the bases loaded scored Caela Abadie to make it 4-0, while Grober followed with a RBI single to score Sarah Ostaszewski.

A sacrifice fly by Molly Kapala scored Zierke to extend the lead to six, and following a walk to Kulp, Herrera singled to second, scoring Brunck to push the lead to seven.

Stepping to the plate with the bases loaded, Abadie capped the inning with a grand slam to left to push SJU's lead to 11-0.

The 11 runs were more than enough for Ventura as she scattered two hits over four innings to pick up the win and move to 8-8 on the year. Rookie Abigail Stroud worked a scoreless fifth to seal the win for SJU.

At the plate, Abadie went 2-for-2 with her second home run of the season and four RBI and two runs scored. Herrera, Grober and Zierke each finished 2-for-3 as the trio combined for five runs scored and four runs batted in.

Saint Joseph's returns to action with a doubleheader at Delaware on Tuesday. Game one is set for a 3 p.m. start.