April 8, 2009
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette softball team outhit St. Joseph's and the Leopard pitching staff struck out more batters, but the Hawks still managed to pull away with a 6-4 victory on Wednesday afternoon.
Lafayette (8-16) muscled more hits (nine to seven) and pitcher Kasey Karr shelled out a season-high seven strikeouts while St. Joe's retired four. However, a pair of consecutive homers over the centerfield wall in the top of the fifth allowed St. Joseph's (16-13) to clinch the win.
Sophomore Stacey Kushner went 3-for-3 with one RBI and freshman Gwen Turner went 2-for-4 with two runs to lead the Leopards.
In the first inning, Turner tripled after her ball landed fair near the right field foul line. Christina Giambrone dropped one into center field to send Turner home.
Kushner kept the hits coming with a single past St. Joe's third baseman Monica Aguilar, and Kristin Garganio powered a hit to right center, sending home Giambrone.
St. Joe's responded in the top of the second with four runs. After Brooke Darreff and Erika Rosenwinkle singled, Dani Gonzales reached first when Garganio bobbled the ball.
Though the Leopards were able to force out Dareff at home, the next three batters were able to capitalize with the bases loaded. Karr walked two and hit Beka Shumock with a pitch, sending home three runs. The Hawks scored once more off a wild pitch before Aguilar grounded out to Turner to end the inning.
In the bottom of the third, Lafayette evened out the score. Kushner singled to bring in Turner and the Leopards loaded the bases thanks to an error by shortstop Dana Bieniek as Kerry Griffin reached first base. Freshman Stacey Dorn singled through the right side to send Karr home.
In the top of the fifth, St. Joe's scored the winning runs off consecutive homers from Darreff and Rosenwinkel. Both balls sailed over the same spot on the centerfield wall.
The Leopards travel to Bethlehem, Pa., on Saturday and Sunday for weekend doubleheaders against archrival Lehigh. Saturday's games begin at noon and action starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
