Temple University Athletics
FOLLOWING OPENING GAME LOSS, SOFTBALL DEFEATS ST. BONAVENTURE 11-3, IN GAME TWO OF DOUBLEHEADER
4.19.03 | Softball
In the first game, the Owls could not get the job done at the plate. They managed only five hits in the contest, but also stranded six runners and could not produce a run. St. Bonaventure, on the other hand, generated two runs on six hits, most of them coming in crucial situations. St. Bonaventure also capitalized on two Temple mistakes, which turned out to be detrimental to the Owls.
Temple's five hits came from junior centerfielder Katie Weigle (2-3), junior leftfielder Lynsey Grace (2-3) and freshman shortstop Jess Rohn (1-3). The rest of the Owls' bats remained silent.
The strong pitching effort of senior Liz Naughton resulted in a loss, despite allowing no earned runs, two walks, and striking out eight Bonnies.
The Owls turned things up a notch in the second game, smacking 19 hits off of three different Bonnie pitchers. Temple jumped on the board in the second inning, when Alexis Gary doubled, but was replaced by Dawn Fegeley after she twisted her ankle rounding second. Fegely advanced on a Chrissy Harris' single and Lauren Evans singled in Fegely from third. A sacrifice fly to right field by pitcher Vicky Grasham scored Harris and put the Owls up, 2-0.
Temple added another two runs in the third inning, taking a 4-0 lead.
The Bonnies could not solve Grasham as she held them hitless through three innings, but they got to her in the fourth, scoring three runs off of four hits and threatening the Owls' lead.
Temple would not break, and tacked on two more runs in the fifth, giving them a 6-3 advantage. Lynsey Grace led off with a double and Bari Pflueger followed with a single. Fegely reached on a fielder's choice, but Grace was out at third. Chrissy Harris followed, reaching base, but Pflueger was out at third on the play. Just when the Bonnies had all but escaped the potentially dangerous inning, Lauren Evans knocked a double to deep left-center, bringing home Fegely and Harris, and giving the Owls a more comfortable lead.
After the fourth inning when St. Bonaventure picked up three runs, Liz Naughton returned to the mound for the Owls, allowing no hits, no runs, no walks and striking out three through the sixth inning.
Temple added five runs in the top of the seventh inning to close the door on the Bonnies. Lynsey Grace led of with a solo home run, and the Bonnies recorded the first out of the inning when Pflueger flied out to center. St. Bonaventure then collapsed, allowing five consecutive hits, two doubles and three singles, to Fegely, Harris, Evans, Grasham and Rohn. When the Owls were finally finished, the Bonnies trailed, 11-3.
In the seventh inning Kim Watkins came in to close the game for Temple, sitting down all three batters she faced in order and sealing the Owls' victory.
After losing the first game Naughton picks up the win for the Owls, improving her record to 8-5. Starter Vicky Grasham needed four complete innings of work to earn the decision, but only pitched three and two thirds innings.
The Owls continue play this Friday, April 25, in a conference doubleheader against Fordham. The first game is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. at Erny Field.
