Box Score May 8, 2009
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Bronx, N.Y. -
It's hard to beat a team four times in one year as the Fordham Univeristy Rams found out on Friday at the 2009 Atlantic 10 Championship. Facing a team they had beaten three times already in 2009, including once in the championship, Saint Joseph's University used a six-run third inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Dani Gonzales, to defeat the Rams, 7-3, and eliminate Fordham from the championship.
The Rams close out the 2009 season with a 37-22 record, Fordham's seventh straight 30-win season.
With one out in the Saint Joseph's third, consecutive singles from Bernadette Moran, Laura Cardone and Dana Bieniek loaded the bases for Monica Aguilar, the 2009 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year. Aguilar wasted little time in delivering for the Hawks, knocking the second pitch from Fordham starter Jen Mineau through the left side to bring in Moran and Cardone. Brooke Darreff followed with another single to plate Bieniek and an Erika Rosenwinkel ground out to short plated Aguilar with the fourth run of the inning. Gonzales, who had struck out in her first four at bats against Fordham in the championship, then stepped up to the plate and sent one over the left field fence to put Saint Joseph's up 6-0. It was Gonzales' fourth home run of the year.
Gonzales then went to work in the circle, not allowing a run until Erin Fisher connected on a two-out solo home run in the fifth, her fifth of the year.
The Hawks got that run back in the top of the sixth as Gonzales doubled with one out with Sarah Falk coming on to pinch run for her. After Chelsea Plimpton relieved Mineau for the Rams, Beka Shumock grounded out to move Falk to third where she scored on a passed ball.
The Rams picked up two runs in the home half of the sixth when Melissa Andrews tripled to right with one out and Lindsey Kay Bright followed with a bunt single and stole second. Mary Beth Puccio then brought in both runners with a single to right. But Gonzales was able to get Samantha Pellechio to hit into a fielder's choice and Dearborn to ground out to end the inning.
Gonzales, who struck out three and didn't walk a batter, picked up the win in the circle for Saint Joseph's while Mineau was charged with the loss to fall to 18-12 on the year.
