SOFTBALL SPLITS OPENING GAMES AT TRIANGLE CLASSIC

CHAPEL HILL, NC -- Sophomore pitcher Richelle Villescas, the 2004 Atlantic 10 Tournament Most Outstanding Performer, opened her second season at Temple with an impressive 2-1 eight-inning win over Radford in the season-opener at the Triangle Classic Friday afternoon.   The Cherry and White fell to host North Carolina, 7-0, in a chilly evening game held under the lights at the UNC Softball Complex.  Play continues Saturday in the three-day, six-team tournament.

Villescas, who helped lead Temple to the 2004 A-10 Championship and first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament, was dominant on the mound, striking out seven Highlanders while allowing six hits.  She also pitched one an one-third innings of scoreless relief in the loss to the Tar Heels.

Sophomore right fielder Brandie Mora got the Owls on the scoreboard in the opener.  Mora stroked a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Freshman second baseman Amanda Carver then singled with Mora moving to third.  Carver then stole second with Mora scoring the game's first run on a throwing error by the Radford catcher.

The Highlanders tied the game on a suicide squeeze in the top of the seventh inning to force extra innings.

Playing under international tie-breaker rules, Radford started the top of the eighth with a runner on second base.  Villescas was up to the challenge, retiring the side in order.

Carver started the Temple half of the eighth on second base and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Brittany Burks, with the Owl newcomer reaching base via error.  Senior Melissa McCartney, who entered the game for defensive purposes in the seventh, delivered the game-winning single to second base, scoring Carver.

In the nightcap, UNC, picked third in the ACC and coming off three NCAA Tournament appearances in four years, was too much for the young Owls.  Junior pitcher Crystal Cox limited Temple to two singles, both coming off the bat of senior shortstop Aida Esquer, while striking out 10 in hurling the shutout. 

The Tar Heels broke the game open with a three-run fifth inning, to make it 5-0.  They followed with two more runs in the sixth inning.  Junior All-America candidate Jaclyn Holden led the UNC offensive assault with three doubles and two RBI.

Freshman Cara L'Etoile took the loss for the Owls.  L'Toile tossed three innings, allowing just two hits and two runs (one earned), while striking two.  Fellow freshman Jen Nacianceno had a rough first outing, tossing 2 2/3 innings and allowing five runs (four earned).

Trailing just 2-0, Temple had the bases loaded and one out when Carver lined one two short for an inning-ending double play. 

The Owls (1-1) continue pool play Saturday when they take on UNC-Wilmington at 10:30 a.m. and Virginia at 1:00 p.m.  Both contests will be held on the stadium field.

Temple University Athletics

SOFTBALL SPLITS OPENING GAMES AT TRIANGLE CLASSIC

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