Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE DEFEATS SAINT JOSEPH'S, 5-4, IN OPENING ROUND OF A-10 SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
5.9.02 | Softball
Atlantic 10 Co-Rookie of the Year Aida Esquer (Chula Vista, Calif./Bonita Vista H.S.) singled in senior Chrissy Pearson (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley H.S.) in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Owls the victory. Pearson entered the game as a pinch runner for junior Bari Lynn Pflueger (Allentown, Pa./Parkland H.S.) who opened the inning with a double. She advanced to third on an Alexis Gary (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel H.S.) single.
Saint Joseph's (32-16) started the game with two runs in the top of the first inning. The Owls responded with one run in the bottom of the first, when Pflueger hit a sacrifice fly to center field scoring senior Katie Spencer (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual H.S.), who had doubled and reached third on a Katie Weigle (Naples, Fla./Naples H.S.) single.
Temple trailed 4-1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning but responded with three runs in the stanza when sophomore Lynsey Grace hit her 12th double of the season, knocking in Spencer, Weigle and freshman Linsey Rummel (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts H.S.).
Junior Liz Naughton (Olyphant, Pa./Mid-Valley H.S.) earned the complete game victory, allowing two earned runs and five hits while striking out four and giving up just one walk. She improved her record to 12-10 and has won nine of her last 11 starts.
Temple (27-23), under the direction of fifth-year head coach Rocci Pignoli, has won 18 of its last 21 games and six of its last seven. The Owls entered the Championships after posting a 15-6 league mark. The team is seeking its first Atlantic 10 title since 1990, when it shared the crown with Massachusetts.
