Temple University Athletics
SOFTBALL CONCLUDES CONFERENCE PLAY WITH SPLIT OF LASALLE DOUBLEHEADER
5.3.03 | Softball
In the first game, the Explorers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom the first inning on two hits and two Temple errors. They held on to that lead until the top of the third when the Owls' Jess Rohn walked and was brought around on hits by Katie Weigle, Jenny Cochran, and a sacrifice fly by Lynsey Grace, cutting LaSalle's lead in half.
Temple added another run in the fifth, tying the game at two.
The Explorers answered right back in the bottom half of the inning, when shortstop Vinnie Caputo was walked and brought home on a double by first baseman Amanda Clark, giving them back their one-run lead.
After five frustrating innings at the plate, the Owls blew things wide open in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, catcher Alexis Gary drilled a solo shot into deep center field, tying the game at three. Chrissy Harris followed suit, hitting another solo home run, and giving the Owls the advantage, 4-3.
Temple held on to it's lead through the bottom of the sixth, and closed the door on LaSalle in the top of the seventh. With Katie Weigle, who reached on a fielder's choice, on second base, and Jenny Cochran, who singled, on first, Lynsey Grace hit a shot over the left field fence, giving Temple a 7-3 advantage, the final difference in the game.
Liz Naughton, who pitched the complete game win, ensured that the Explorers would not threaten in the bottom half of the inning. The victory improves her record to 9-5.
Vicky Grasham took the mound for the Owls in the second game, which remained scoreless until the top of the fifth inning.
Aida Esquer led off the inning with a solo home run, the fourth of the day for Temple. Grasham singled, and was brought home on another single by Cochran, giving the Owls a two-run lead.
A pesky LaSalle offense tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring two runs on three hits.
The game remained locked at two runs apiece through the seventh inning. LaSalle had the opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, but could not capitalize. With the bases loaded and one out, Jill Stombock grounded into a fielder's choice, and Temple second baseman Jenny Cochran went home with the throw, keeping the Owls alive. On the next play, Alexis Schneider hit a dribbler to second base, but Stombock ran into Cochran, who was trying to field the ball, and was called out on interference, sending the game into extra innings.
In the top of the ninth inning, Temple scored two runs and looked to shut down the Explorers in the bottom of the inning. LaSalle, however, answered with three runs on three clutch hits, and pulled off the victory, stunning the tournament-bound Owls, and sending them home with a 1-1 record on the day.
The Owls finish the regular season with a 20-18 overall record, and a 10-4 mark in conference play. They depart Wednesday for Amherst, Massachusetts, where they will compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. They will face the number three seeded Saint Joseph's Hawks on Thursday, May 8 at 2 p.m. in the opening round.
