Kosinski's Walk-Off Pushes Pirates Past Saint Joseph's, 4-3

Wednesday, March 25

3 p.m.

Seton Hall University

11-15

Saint Joseph's

13-14

Saint Joseph's

Seton Hall

Kosinski's Walk-Off Pushes Pirates Past Saint Joseph's, 4-3

3/25/2026 6:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – In an extra-innings thriller, Lea Kosinski' walk-off double pushed the Seton Hall softball team (11-15, 2-7) past the Saint Joseph's Hawks (13-14), 4-3 in 10 innings, at Mike Sheppard Sr. Field.

How It Happened
Looking to rebound from yesterday's Garden State clash, the Pirates began play with a focused and extremely attentive. After a swift one-two-three inning on nine pitches in the field, The Hall's bats found early momentum at the plate. A pair of singles Angelina Benitez and Katey Brennan opened the Pirates' turn at the plate, followed by a walk by Sophia DeMarco, loading the bases with no outs for Seton Hall.
Looking to continue her strong run of form, Naya Martinez stepped to the plate looking to draw blood and give The Hall an early lead. It turned out she would do exactly that, as Martinez hit a sacrifice fly on a 2-0 count to bring home Benitez and take an early 1-0 lead.

In the circle, Rachel Schumann was putting on her best performance of the season. Through four innings, the sophomore had not allowed a run or a hit, but she was giving up plenty of soft contact that put the onus on the Pirates' defense to field any issues away. That issue came to a head in the fifth inning when a St. Joseph's home run to lead off the frame pulled the visitors within one. Before the inning's end, after an error and a sacrifice hit, the Hawks added one more run to put Seton Hall in a 2-1 hole.

Just as in the first inning, however, the Pirates found their resiliency in small ball in the bottom of the fifth. After flying out to open the inning, the top of the order for the Pirates once again loaded the bases for Martinez. This time, the right fielder hit into a fielder's choice towards the shortstop. As Benitez raced against the clock to beat the throw to home, the catcher bobbled the ball in her attempt to collect it, evening the game at 2-2. Once again, however, the Pirates failed to capitalize further, stranding runners and exiting the inning with only two runs on the board.

As the innings continued to pass after the game entered a stalemate, neither offense could manage to find any ground on the opposing pitching. The two sides combined for one baserunner over the next two innings, eventually sending this game into extras. Yet, in extras, the same situation occurred. By the time the tenth inning arrived, neither side had, once again, managed only one hit during that span.

With ghost runners now introduced, the inning-by-inning jeopardy only grew. An inning-opening walk by the Hawks did not help that stress either, leaving The Hall with work to do to escape the inning unharmed. Unfortunately for the Pirates, the ghost runner would end up scoring on a blocking the basepath call during a sacrifice fly, putting Saint Joseph's up 3-2.

Now down to their last life, the Pirates once again turned to the top of the order in search of answers. After two batters, The Hall and runners on the corners and a chance to equalize the game with only one out. Once again, all eyes turned to Martinez. She delivered, lauching another sacrifice fly that would bring the proceedings even at 3-3.

With at least another frame of life secured, Lea Kosinski stepped to the plate with a runner on second and a chance at the win. Kosinski didn't wait long for her chance at glory, taking a swing at the first pitch she saw and driving it through the left side of the infield. As pinch-runner Gabby Mercado ran to the plate, the throw from left field came in. In the end, Mercado beat out the tag, sending the Pirates' dugout streaming onto the field and giving The Hall a 4-3 win in ten innings.

News & Notes

With the loss, the Pirates move to 11-15 on the season and 2-7 in BIG EAST play.
With the win, the Pirates have won their last two extra-inning games.
With three hits today, Benitez has now recorded a hit in 22 of 26 games this season.
- She also recorded her tea-leading 20^th run scored.
Kosinski recorded her fifth multi-hit game this season.
With two RBI today, Martinez surpassed 15 RBI on the year.
Brennan recorded her 34^th multi-hit game.
Schumann recorded her third appearance of the season of five or more innings.

What's Next
The Pirates will play host to the Providence Friars in a BIG EAST weekend series, beginning Friday, March 27, at Mike Sheppard Sr. Field. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 2 p.m.