March 5, 2008

Box Score

CLEARWATER, FL - The Saint Joseph's softball team dropped a pair of close contests to Michigan State Wednesday afternoon at Eddie C. Moore Stadium in Clearwater, Florida. The Hawks rallied from a 5-1 deficit in game one, but eventually fell 7-5, while the Spartans scored the final run in a 4-3 decision in the nightcap.

In the first game, which started Tuesday, Saint Joseph's (1-5) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as junior catcher Erika Rosenwinkel drilled a two-out triple to right field and came around to a RBU single by sophomore Brooke Darreff.

The Spartans (6-9) responded in the bottom of the first, as Caitlin Mahoney and Gina Mondo collected a RBI each of the Hawks' senior hurler Lauren Cognigni.

Up 2-1, Michigan State jumped out to a 5-1 advantage in the bottom of the second, but play was halted for the day.

On the restart Wednesday, the Hawks' bats were lively, as SJU scored twice in the top of the third to cut the deficit to 5-3. Following a single by freshman Dana Bieniek and a hit by pitch to senior Kelsey Moir, Rosenwinkel collected her second extra-base hit of the game, drilling a double down the left field line, scoring Bieniek from second. Darreff brought the Hawks within 5-3 in the next at-bat with a sacrifice fly, scoring Moir from third.

Following a Michigan State run in the bottom of the fourth and bottom of the sixth, Saint Joseph's offense again rallied. Down 7-3 with three outs remaining, the Hawks loaded the bases to start the top of the seventh. Darreff delivered the first Saint Joseph's blow - a RBI single to the shortstop - cutting the deficit to 7-4.

With the bases still loaded, the Hawks scored another run in the next at-bat, but the Michigan State defense was able to turn a double-play, keeping the bases cleared and leading 7-5 with two outs. Unfortunately for Saint Joseph's, it was unable to gather any momentum with two outs as Lesley Noel closed out the game for the Spartans.

In the nightcap, Michigan State jumped out to a 3-0 lead after scoring twice in the second and once in the third.

The Hawks quickly erased the deficit in the bottom of the third as Saint Joseph's tallied three runs to tie the game. With a runner on first and two out, freshman Maggie Prisinzano singled to left field, bringing the tying run to the plate. Following a first-pitch ball, Darreff drilled a three-run homer off of the Spartans' Noel to even the score.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, Michigan State responded in the top of the fourth as Nikki Nicosia tripled and would later come around to score the game-winning run on a wild pitch.

For the day, Bieniek led the way for SJU, going 3-for-7 with three runs scored, while Darreff went 4-of-6, with a team-high six RBI. Rosenwinkel accounted for the other SJU RBI, and finished 4-of-4 from the plate. On the mound, Cognigni went 0-1, while allowing only seven earned runs, while striking out six over 8.1 innings. Junior Dani Gonzales was the hard-luck loser in game two after allowing just two runs over 4.2 innings, while striking out three.

Saint Joseph's returns to action at the University of South Florida Under Armour Challenge Thursday, March 6.