MERION STATION, Pa. – Hailey Malito and Riley York each recorded walk-off RBI as the Saint Joseph's softball team swept a doubleheader from UMass at the SJU Softball Field on Saturday afternoon.  Malito's single in the bottom of the seventh won the opener, 4-3, while York's sacrifice fly in the nightcap pushed across the winning run in a 3-2 victory.
 
GAME 1: Saint Joseph's 4, UMass 3
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• UMass (5-16 overall, 0-2 Atlantic 10) got on the board in the top of the third as Brooke Musch led off with a walk, stole second and third, and came in on a sacrifice fly by Sophia Thormeyer.
 
• The Hawks went ahead in the bottom of the frame.  Jenna Currie singled before Sierra Fretz reached on an error.  Three batters later, with two outs, Sarah Cancila launched a no-doubter over the right field fence for a 3-1 lead.
 
• The visitors staged a late rally, however, tying the game with two outs in the seventh.  With runners at second and third, Lydia Castro doubled to right center to bring home both runs and tie the game at 3-3.
 
• Fretz started the home half of the seventh with a walk; Kayla Tauber and Cancila drew free passes of their own to load the bases for Malito, who ripped a ground ball through the right side to score Fretz and win the game.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Marla Freiwald threw one pitch to end the UMass threat in the seventh and was credited with the win, while Julianne Bolton went the distance for UMass to take the loss.  Jules Scogna went six and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out four in a no-decision.
 
• Malito had two hits to lead the Hawks, while Fretz scored twice and Cancila recorded three runs batted in.
 
GAME 2: Saint Joseph's 3, UMass 2
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Once again it was the Minutewomen that took the early lead, but this time it was in the top of the first inning as a passed ball and an RBI double by Odyssey Torres staked the visitors to a 2-0 advantage.
 
• Saint Joseph's (10-12 overall, 2-0 Atlantic 10) drew level in the bottom of the second as Kasi Loser drew a bases-loaded walk before Fretz came in to score on a passed ball.
 
• The Hawks would load the bases with nobody out in the fifth, but UMass pitcher Natalee Horton induced a pair of fielder's choices followed by a ground ball to escape the jam.
 
• There would be no such Houdini act in the seventh, however, as Tauber led off with a walk and went to third on a single by Cancila; three batters later, York's sacrifice fly brought home Tauber with the winning run.
 
BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• Taylor Trowbridge tossed a complete game for the Hawks, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out seven.  Horton allowed three runs on six hits in a complete-game effort for UMass.
 
• Malito had her second two-hit game of the day for SJU.
 
UP NEXT
The teams are set to wrap up the weekend series on Sunday at noon.