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@BonniesSoftball To Resume Atlantic 10 Action As Saint Joseph's Comes To Joyce Field

SAINT JOSEPH'S AT ST. BONAVENTURE
April 14 (DH)- 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
April 15- 12:00 p.m.
Location: Joyce Field
Coverage: Live Stats | Live Stream (Friday only, $$)

STORYLINE
 The St. Bonaventure University softball team will resume Atlantic 10 play as they welcome the Saint Joseph's Hawks to Joyce Field this weekend. The Hawks sit at third place in the Atlantic 10 at 6-3, while the Bonnies are in search of their first A-10 series win.

LAST TIME OUT
 The St. Bonaventure softball team split a doubleheader Wednesday against Little Three rival Niagara at Joyce Field.

Alexandra Piergustavo and Desiree Gonzalez both knocked home runs in game one to power the Bonnies to their biggest offensive performance of the season at 12 runs.

The Bonnies also knocked a season-high 15 hits in game one, including the first career multi-hit game for Olivia Golay, who went 3-for-3.

Gonzalez continued her powerful hitting into game two with her second two-run home run of the day, putting the Bonnies up 2-0 early.

COVERAGE
 Friday's games will both be streamed live through GoBonniesTV and the Atlantic 10 Network. For information on how to subscribe, click here. 

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

  1. The Bonnies' bats have heated up with the weather. In the 10 games in April, the Bonnies have knocked seven home runs. Leading the power surge is Alexandra Piergustavo, who has hit three of her six total home runs in the last five games, including a solo shot against Niagara on Wednesday.
  2. Wednesday's win in game one over Niagara was a historic one for the Bonnies' program. The explosion for 12 runs on 15 hits was the most ever in either category at Joyce Field, and both the highest runs and hits total since April 29, 2015 at Youngstown State in which they knocked 13 runs and 17 hits.
  3. Olivia Golay's breakout game helped boost the Bona offense against Niagara as her 3-for-3 performance in the game-one win was her first career multi-hit game. Her bases-loaded single in the first inning sent home three and gave the Bonnies and early lead, which has been key for the Brown and White as they are 7-3 in games in which they score in the first inning.
  4. As the table setter in her first season at the top of the Bonnies' batting order, Desiree Gonzalez has fit her new role nicely. She has raised her on-base percentage to a team-best .409 with team highs in stolen bases (12) and runs scored (19), including four total in Wednesday's doubleheader against Niagara. Her three triples this season are also the third-most in the Atlantic 10.
  5. Freshman Sam Wood has emerged as a reliable arm in the circle for the Brown and White. She's tossed 25.2 total innings in her first campaign with the Bonnies, but 12.2 of those innings have come in her last two appearances, which were starts in which she went at least six innings. Wood tossed the game-one win over Niagara on Wednesday and came one out shy of earning her first career complete-game win.

ABOUT SAINT JOSEPH'S

  • The Saint Joseph's Hawks were picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll after advancing to the A-10 title game last season. Their most recent A-10 action came on a three-game sweep over Rhode Island that put their conference record at 6-3, third best in the conference.
  • Sophomore outfielder Amanda Kulp is ranked fifth in the A-10 with 18 stolen bases and leads the team with a .389 batting average, 19 runs scored and 35 hits.
  • Freshman catcher Sarah Ostaszewski leads the team with 19 RBIs and is one of four Hawks with three homers on the year.
  • Taryn Grober has knocked a team-best eight doubles, a triple and a homer en route to a .291 batting average. She is one of three Hawks to start and appear in all 34 games so far.
  • Sophomore pitcher Ashley Ventura is the ace in the circle for SJU with eight wins. She has been holding opposing batters to a .221 batting average on the season while pitching 117 innings, good for fourth and second in the A-10, respectively. Ventura has also struck out 87 batters this season, 28 of those looking.

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Stay connected with St. Bonaventure athletics through social media. Follow the Bonnies on Twitter @Go_Bonnies and softball updates at @BonniesSoftball. Keep up with the Bonnies on Facebook /GoBonnies and on Instagram @GoBonnies. 

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