March 20, 2009
Box Score
AMBLER, Pa. - Saint Joseph's opened up a scoreless game in the fourth inning and held off the Explorers for an 8-0 score in the conference opener for both teams. The Explorers fall to 1-8 overall, 0-1 in the Atlantic 10. The Hawks improve to .500 at 10-10 overall, 1-0 in conference.
The teams played through very cold conditions as the temperature in Ambler hovered in the low 40s with a few snow flurries making an appearance throughout.
Despite the cold, both pitchers - DJ Guinn for the Explorers and Jillian Black for the Hawks - got off to sizzling starts on the mound. Neither offense could generate anything against either pitcher through the first three innings.
The first baserunner of the game reached in the top of the fourth, when the Hawks' Laura Cardone drew a lead-off walk. Dana Bieniek reached first on a throwing error by Ali Shepherd in the next at-bat, sending Cardone all the way home for the game's first score. The Hawks added one more score that inning when Brooke Darreff sailed a ball to centerfield. Laura Gallagher made the catch, but Bieniek tagged up and made it home.
Teddi Hernandez belted the Explorers' first hit of the game - a two-out double to right center - in the bottom of the fourth, but was stranded at second to end the inning.
The Hawks added six more runs between the fifth and seventh innings to put the game out of reach. The Explorers attempted a rally in the bottom of the seventh when Gina Massaro and Mary Pat Conville both hit singles to center, but the team could not capitalize.
Guinn pitched five innings total for the Explorers, gave up four hits and struck out four. Kristin Paoletti pitched two innings in relief from the middle of the fifth to the middle of the seventh before Guinn re-entered the game in the seventh.
Black went the distance for the Hawks, while giving up three hits and striking out eight.
The two teams face each other again on Saturday (3/21) for the second game of the two-game series. First pitch is set for noon at Temple's Ambler Sports Complex.
