Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE SOFTBALL TO BE BROADCAST LIVE OVER THE INTERNET
5.18.04 | Softball
Besides Oklahoma and Temple, Region 1 is comprised of host and top-ranked Arizona (#1 seed, 53-4), Northwestern (#3 seed, 32-18), South Carolina (#4 seed, 27-22), #9 Louisiana-Lafayette (#5 seed, 55-6), UC-Santa Barbara (#6 seed, 32-29) and Centenary (#8 seed, 35-28). The eight teams will play a double-elimination format with the regional championship slated for Sunday, May 23. All of Temple's softball games will be carried live on the internet.
Head Coach Rocci Pignoli's squad earned its berth to the NCAA Tournament the hard way. The Owls dropped their first game of the Atlantic 10 Tournament to Saint Joseph's, 2-1, and then won four straight games, including a doubleheader sweep of the Hawks in the championship round on Saturday, May 15.
"I think it is an honor for our kids to play in a region with the #1 team in the country," said Pignoli. "It is everyone's dream to play best team in the country and hopefully we can have shot at playing Arizona."
Freshman Richelle Villescas won three games in the A-10 Tournament and was named its Most Outstanding Player. Villescas upped her record to 17-12, and is now tied for second on Temple's all-time single season win list. She was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates senior Kim Watkins, the A-10 Pitcher of the Year, senior outfielder Katie Weigle, who went five-for-six at the plate in the championship round, and junior shortstop Aida Esquer.
Pignoli, the A-10 Coach of the Year, has guided Temple to a 29-16 record this season. The 29 wins ties for the third best win total in school history.
