Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE BREAKS OUT OF OFFENSIVE SLUMP, SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER AT UMASS
4.17.05 | Softball
AMHERST, MA -- Mired in an 11-game slump, the Temple bats exploded for a season-high 11 runs and matched its best hit total with 10 in pounding Atlantic 10 Conference power Massachusetts, 11-3 in the opening game of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon at the UMass Softball Complex. The Minutewomen rebounded to take the nightcap, 10-1.
The Minutewomen opened the scoring as shortstop Hillary Puglia led off the bottom of the first with a homer to left center, her team-leading fifth of the year. Sophomore pitcher Richelle Villescas then hit the next batter, Candice Molinari, who proceeded to steal second. Villescas then struck out KJ Kelley and got clean-up hitter Denise Denis to line to short. Pam Sulick then delivered a run-scoring double to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
The Owls scored three in the third to take the lead. Temple loaded the bases on singles by Shawn Casey and Melissa McCartney. Brittany Burks then reached on a fielders choice with UMass hurler Barb LaFogg (13-8) plunking Brandie Mora. After striking out Aida Esquer for the second out, LaFogg walked the Owls' cleanup hitter, Laura Gutscher for the Cherry and White's first run. Then sophomore first baseman Adrienne Repsher singled to left to drive in two more runs.
Temple broke the game open in the sixth, plating three more runs. The Owls again loaded the bases on a Mora double, an Esquer single and a Gutscher walk. LaFogg then hurt herself, hitting Repsher to score Mora and then walking Lauren Evans, sending home pinch-runner Lauren Evans. Casey then capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly that scored Gutscher.
Mora doubled and scored in the top of the sixth to make it 7-2 Temple before the game got ugly in the seventh. Makeala Compton led the frame off with a walk and was subsequently pulled for pinch-runner Amanda Carver. Casey then singled through the left side for her second hit of the game. McCartney, who was 3-for-4 on the day, then doubled to drive both runners home. Burks singled to third and Mora, who was 2-for-3 with three runs, was hit by a pitch for the second time to load the bases.
Jenna Busa, who relieved LaFogg in the fourth, was then pulled herself in favor of Maggie Felix. The new UMass hurler got Esquer to fly out to right for the first out. She then threw a wild pitch which allowed McCartney to score. Burks came around on the play as well on an error by Minutewomen catcher KJ Kelly to make it 11-2 Temple.
Stacy Cullington homered in the bottom of the seventh to account for the final UMass run.
Villescas (11-15) allowed just six hits while striking out five in going the distance for Temple.
In the nightcap, UMass stormed out of the gates for four first inning runs, knocking out Villescas (11-16) before she could retire a batter. The Minutewomen pushed six more runs across off freshman reliever Jen Naciaceno in the third in the five-inning 10-1 win.
Gutscher singled in Burks in the third for the Owls' lone run of the game. Evans led the team with two hits in two at-bats.
Kelly did the most damage for UMass, belting a three-run homer in the first. Lesley Ferrarra added a three-run shot in the third for the Minutewomen. Busa (8-4) went the distance for UMass (21-12-1, 7-3), allowing just five hits while striking out five.
The Owls (12-24, 1-7 in A-10 play) host Saint Joseph's in a twinbill Thursday at Ambler Softball Field (2:00 p.m.).
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