Temple University Athletics
OWLS MISS CHANCES IN DOUBLEHEADER LOSS AT FORDHAM
4.24.05 | Softball
NEW YORK - For most of Sunday the Temple Owls played like a team defending its 2004 Atlantic 10 title. The Owls held late leads against Fordham, the only team undefeated in league play this season, only to fall in both contests, 5-4 and 4-3 in eight innings.
With the sweep, Fordham tops the 30-win plateau for the third straight season, going to 31-13 overall, and all but assures an Atlantic 10 Tournament berth with a 12-0 conference mark, while Temple falls to 13-27 (2-10 in A-10) and needs a miracle to make the four-team conference tournament.
In game one, Temple scored four runs in the third off starter Sara Kinney to take a 4-0 lead. The Owls got an RBI-double by sophomore Adrienne Repsher, an RBI-fielder's choice by senior Aida Esquer, and a two-run double by sophomore Makaela Compton in the frame.
Fordham answered with five runs in the fifth off of Temple ace Richelle Villescas to take a 5-4 lead. Allison Storc led off with a double, and was pinch run for by Lex Touris. Krystle Henry then dropped an infield single to put runners at first and third. Ivy Pollock then singled to right center, bringing Touris home. After a Katie Davis fielder's choice forced Pollock at second, Laura Klaiber hit a two-run double to left center, scoring Henry and Davis, to make it, 4-3. Allison Twarowski followed with an RBI-double to left, scoring Klaiber to tie the game. Jamie Dautel then put the Rams ahead as she singled to left, scoring Twarowski.
Rachael Wiggins (4-4), who replaced Kinney in third, got the win, pitching 2 2/3 of relief, allowing just two hits. Kinney ended up re-entering the game, pitching the final two innings, to record her fourth save.
In game two, Fordham got on the board first in the second inning, as Klaiber tripled to the right field corner, and was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Dautel.
The game would stay that way until the top of the seventh. With runners on second and third and one out, Carol Fischer struck out Lauren Evans, but the return throw from the catcher went past Fischer, allowing the pinch-runner Kelly Swartwood to score from third.
The Owls then scored twice in the eighth to take a 3-1 lead on RBI-doubles by Laura Gutscher and Esquer.
Fordham though would not go away, scoring three times in the bottom of the inning, all with two outs, to win the game. With two outs, Henry singled to center, and moved to second, as centerfielder Brandie Mora misplayed the ball. Then, Pollock and Davis both walked, loading the bases for Klaiber. After a wild pitch scored Henry from third, Klaiber hit a two-run single up the middle to score Pollock and Davis to win the game.
Fordham starter Carol Fischer went 7 2/3 innings, allowing three unearned runs on five hits, while striking out a season-high seven batters. Kinney ended up getting the win for Fordham, her 18th of the season, as she got the final out of the eighth inning.
Freshman Jen Nacianceno (1-6) took the loss for Temple, allowing four hits and three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of relief.
This was the first time that Fordham had swept a doubleheader from Temple since joining the Atlantic 10 in the 1996 season.
