Temple University Athletics
SOFTBALL OPENS SEASON IN TAMPA AT USF WILSON INVITATIONAL
2.18.06 | Softball
TAMPA, FL - After spending the last three weeks out of the dirt due to Philadelphia's winter weather conditions, the Temple University women's softball team opened their 2005-06 season on February 19 in sunny Tampa, Fl at the USF Wilson Invitational. The Owls fell to both the Hofstra University Pride and the tournament's host, the University of Southern Florida Bulls in the first leg of the event, but look forward to two more days in Tampa to even the score.
In their game against Hofstra, the Cherry and White was unable to get on the board due to the solid work of Hofstra's freshman pitcher Kayleigh Lotti. Freshman Jessica Weckenman was the only Temple player to advance beyond first base in the match-up, having been walked by Lotti and advancing further on junior Jessica Rohn's grounder. Hofstra downed Temple 10-0 in the game. The Owls and the Pride have competed in 16 games since 1993. Hofstra has the lead in the series, winning 13 of those matches. These teams will go head to head again this season at the Speedline Invitational in Clearwater, Fl on March 10.
Temple came out to play in their second game against USF. The Bulls made the first appearance on the scoreboard in the competition, scoring two in the first inning. Owl sophomore Jennifer Nacianceno kept the Bulls at Bay in the second, striking out USF's Ashley Bullion and Laura Wolf. Freshman Katie Burdeaux was the first Temple player to register a hit and a run of the 2005-06 season. Burdeaux hit one through the left field gap for a single at the bottom of the third. Sophomore Birttany Burks was hit by a pitch and took the base. Junior Adrienne Repsher reached first on a fielders choice after Rohn singled. Burdeaux scored on an error by USF's catcher Wolf. Burks found her way home on a single by freshman Nicole Lee. The Owls wrapped up the third inning with two runs as compared to USF's three. The Bulls had three quick outs in the fourth and Temple's Makeala Compton took the plate. Compton scored the Owl's first home run of the season, tying the game. USF responded with two runs in the fifth. At the bottom of the sixth, Kelly Swartwood found her way home, pinch running for Compton. The Bulls came out in the final inning and scored six runs off of six hits. The Owls were unable to get back in the game which ended 11-4. The Cherry and White has met the Bulls on the field 20 times since 1985. The Bulls lead the series 19-1.
The Owls (0-2) will next take on the Jacksonville Dolphins on February 20th at 6:00 pm. The game will feature the re-emergence of three starters who were benched during the first two games for undisclosed reasons. With Temple playing at full strength, the second leg of the USF Wilson Invitational will certainly be exciting
