BRONX, N.Y. – Saint Joseph's battled until the final out, but fifth seed UMass held off a rally by the sixth seeded Hawks, 8-6, in the elimination bracket portion of the 2024 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship on Thursday at Bahoshy Field.

How It Happened
• A two-run double by Lydia Castro gave UMass a 2-0 edge in the bottom of the first.
• Castro scored from third on a fielder's choice by Sarah Keagy to extend the Minutewomen's lead to 3-0.
• Keagey drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the second, allowing Chloe Whittier to score from third and make it 4-0.
• Gianna Muhaw sparked a four-run fifth inning for the Hawks with a RBI single that scored Shelby LaMont.
• Kayla Tauber followed with a two-run single that scored Muhaw and Nicole Bondoc to make it 4-3.
• Tauber tied the game at 4-4 as she scored from third on a wild pitch.
• Grace Cadden put UMass ahead 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth as she scored from third on a fielding error by the Hawks on a ball hit by Jordyn Graime. 
• Cadden connected on a three-run triple in the bottom of sixth to open an 8-4 advantage for the Minutewomen.
• Tauber brought the Hawks to within 8-5 with a RBI single that scored Bondoc in the top of the seventh.
• A two-out RBI single by Riley York scored Tauber to make it 8-6.
• Saint Joseph's would get the go-ahead run to the plate, but the Minutewomen got a ground out to end the contest.

Inside The Boxscore
• Saint Joseph's starter Emily Siler was the hard-luck loser, allowing two earned runs on six hits, while striking out two.
• Taylor Trowbridge tossed an inning of relief, allowing three runs on four hits and added a strike out.
• Tauber went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
• Muhaw was 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored.
• LaMont went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.