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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – La Salle softball ran hit a bump in the road Wednesday afternoon, dropping both ends of a doubleheader against Big 5 rival Saint Joseph's at SJU Softball Field. The Explorers dropped a barnburner in Game 1, falling 12-7. The nightcap was the pitchers duel the Explorers have become accustomed to this season, coming up short 3-1 in game cut short on a count of darkness.
 
The Explorers (18-18; 9-5 A-10) jumped right out of the gates in the opener, as Hawks starter Liz Mendez struggled to find the zone early. The Blue and Gold plated four runs in the frame. Michelle Hagarty (0-2; BB, HBP, R, RBI) led off the game reaching on a hit-by-pitch, the second consecutive day she led off a game by being plunked and 16^th time overall this season. Megan Hodgson (1-3; 2B, BB, R, 2RBI) drove her home with a double to right. Suzanne Swanicke (0-1; HBP, 2BB, R, RBI) and Christina Bascara (0-2; HBP, BB, R) then reached on consecutive hit-by-pitches to load the bases. Alica Aughton made Mendez pay for the free bases, lacing a double to centerfield to plate Hodgson and Swanicke. The Explorers capped the scoring with Emily Moran (1-2; HBP, R, RBI) getting plunked with the bases again loaded.
 
Aughton (L, 11-8) could not make the lead stand up, as the Saint Joseph's bats broke out in a big way against the conference's top pitcher. The Hawks knocked 11 hits and plated ten runs (six earned) in the junior's 5+ innings of work.
 
The Hawks got a run back in the bottom of the second and struck for four more runs in the third inning – capitalizing on some lackluster defense from the Explorers – to take their first lead of the game.
 
Saint Joseph's continued to add on in the fourth and fifth innings. The Hawks plated another run in the fourth on a solo homer by Melissa Ruf (2-3; HR, 3RBI). They would add another three runs in the fifth on singles by Morgan Earling (3-4; HR, 2R, 3RBI) and Ruf.
 
Niki Carillo (W, 4-2) came on in relief of Mendez for the Hawks. She stifled the Explorer bats for three innings of one hit ball, before the Blue and Gold would mount a comeback in the sixth. The Explorers loaded the bases to begin the inning on a walk by Kendra Heyer and consecutive singles by Genevieve Gaynor and Emily Moran.
 
Saint Joseph's turned the ball over to Anna Lauterbach; however, she also struggled with control. She walked Hagarty to bring home Heyer. Lauterbach retired the next batter on strikes, before walking Hodgson to bring home pinch runner Danielle Cullen. The wildness prompted another pitching change, as the Hawks turned to Emily Rogers (S, 2) to lock down the rally. She would promptly walk Swanicke to bring home and suddenly the Explorers trailed just 9-7 with one out and the bases still juiced. However, the rally would be cut short by some bad luck. Bascara followed Swanicke's walk by lacing a comebacker to the pitchers circle, which was speared by Rogers who quickly threw to third base to double off Hagarty, ending the rally.
 
Aughton came back out for the sixth, but was lifted after the lead off hitter reached on a defensive miscue. Head coach Ron Shoemaker turned the ball over to freshman Val Buehler. Buehler retired her first two batters, but the Hawks would make the Explorers pay for the error with some two-out lightning. Hannah Dionne singled to drive in one run, while Earling would follow with a homer to stretch the Hawks lead to final margin of 12-7.
 
The Explorers again snatched the early lead in the nightcap. Michelle Hagarty (1-3; HR) led off the game with a solo-shot to left center to stake the Explorers to the early 1-0 lead.
 
Liz Mendez (W, 8-9) would settle down after that, allowing just two more hits three walks, while fanning six the rest of the way.
 
Mary Cate Scott (L, 7-10) toed the rubber for the Explorers in Game 2. Like Mendez, she also ran into some trouble in the first inning. After retiring the first two batters she faced, Sarah Yoos knocked a single to right field. Brandi Harkness (1-2; 2B, R, RBI) followed with a double to right to chase home Yoos. Nicole Palase (1-2; HR, 2RBI) kept the Hawks two-out magic going, driving a homer to left to put the Hawks up 3-1.
 
Scott settled things down after that allowing just two more hits and two walks, while striking out two, over her final three innings of work in the darkness-shortened game.
 
The Explorers will look to get back on track Saturday morning, as the Blue and Gold will welcome Fordham to West Campus Field. The team will celebrate Senior Day festivities before the opening game. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 11:00 AM.