Saint Joseph's Softball Tops Saint Peter's, 10-2

MERION STATION, Pa. - The Saint Joseph's softball team picked up a 10-2 victory over Saint Peter's in six innings Wednesday afternoon at the SJU Softball Field. Originally scheduled for a doubleheader, game two was called off in the bottom of the second inning due to rain.

The Peacocks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first against SJU pticher Madison Clarke, but the Hawks' rookie bounced back and held Saint Peter's off the board over the next three innings.

Down 1-0, Saint Joseph's left fielder Melissa Ruf collected her fifth home run on the year, smacking a two-run shot in the bottom of the third to give the Hawks a 2-1 edge.

The Hawks (16-6) opened up a 5-1 advantage in the bottom of the fourth as they scored three runs against Saint Peter's starter Crystal Carlucci. Cyndi Wilson singled home Brandi Harkness for the inning's first run, then drew an errant throw on a stolen base, allowing herself and Sarah Yoos to score as the ball rolled all the way to the outfield fence.

Saint Peter's added a run in the top of the sixth to cut it to 5-2, but the Hawks answered back with five runs in the bottom of the inning to earn the mercy-rule victory.

Alexis Bush got the scoring started with a RBI single that scored Yoos, and Traneya White followed with a RBI single to score Ashley Alden to make it 7-2.

Following a pitching change, pinch hitter Alexia Faulkner delivered a double down the right field line that scored Bush. After a pop out, pinch hitter Lauren Reilly singled up the middle allowing White and Faulkner to score the game-winning runs.

At the plate, Saint Joseph's scored 10 runs on 11 hits with nine different players collecting a hit. Bush and Yoos both finished 2-for-3, with Yoos scoring twice.

Clarke improved to 12-2 on the season with the win as she allowed just one run on three hits over four innings while striking out one. Lauterbach was strong in relief, allowing one run on one hit and adding four strike outs.

Saint Joseph's returns to action Saturday when it hosts Massachusetts in a doubleheader starting at noon.