MERION STATION, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's softball team got a walkoff winner in the opener on its way to splitting a doubleheader with the Saint Louis Billikens on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks won the first game 3-2 in eight innings before taking an 8-3 setback in the nightcap.
SJU is now 16-14 on the season and 6-2 in Atlantic 10 play.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Riley York and Jenna Currie each had three hits across the doubleheader.
- Sierra Fretz collected her team-leading fifth homer of the season.
- Marla Freiwald has two hits and two RBI in the twinbill, as well as earning the game one victory and tossing 4.2 innings of one-run ball combined in the two games.
HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME ONE
- After the Billikens scored the opening run of the game in the third, SJU came back in the fourth as Meghan Sinkus singled and Fretz walked in front of Currie who laced a double, plating a run and tying the game.
- Freiwald came up next and lifted a sac fly to right, scoring Fretz to make it 2-1 St. Joe's.
- Saint Louis tied the game in the top of the fifth.
- After nearing scoring the game-winner in the seventh, the Hawks came through in the eighth. Fretz walked and Currie singled to put runners on the corners. Freiwald clocked a single over the head of the centerfielder, scoring Fretz for the 3-2 win.
- Freiwald (5-2) authored three scoreless innings in relief of Jules Scogna. For her part, Scogna pitched five-plus innings, scattering two runs and striking out two.
HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME TWO
- Saint Louis scored first with a pair of runs in the third.
- SJU battled back in the fourth as Sinkus walked leading to Fretz's homerun, knotting the score at 2-2.
- The Billikens came right back as a three-run homer in the fifth gave them the lead before SLU added some insurance runs.
UP NEXT
The teams play the rubber game of the series on Sunday. First pitch from the SJU Softball Field is scheduled for noon.