Temple University Athletics
UMASS SWEEPS OWLS IN SOFTBALL
4.15.06 | Softball
AMHERST, MA-- UMass proved to be too much for Temple in softball. The Minutewomen swept the Cherry and White in an Atlantic 10 Conference doubleheader, 3-1 and 12-7. The losses drop the Owls to 13-19 for the season and 6-4 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. UMass, which sits atop the A-10 standings, improves to 23-12, 11-1 in conference play.
Things looked promising for the Owls in the beginning of game one of the twinbill. The Cherry and White got on the board first in the second inning. Freshman pitcher Katie Burdeaux doubled to left field. Classmate Nikki Lee came in to pinch run. A single courtesy of Danielle Fagan brought Lee home. The RBI was Fagan's team-high 16th of the season.
The Owls kept the Minutewomen at bay until the fourth inning. Candice Molinari tripled to left center. Third baseman Whitney Mollica hit a two-run homer to left center to give UMass the lead for good. Mollica then drove in an insurance run, singling up the middle to bring pinch runner Carly Morrin home in the fifth.
Temple came out swinging in the nitecap. Three UMass errors led to four Temple runs in the first inning. UMass tied it up in the bottom half of the inning. The second inning remained scoreless for both teams. The Minutewomen took their first lead of the game with three runs in the bottom of the third inning.
The Owls responded in the fourth with three runs, tying the game. Senior Lauren Evans was walked by UMass pitcher Samatha Salato. Junior Adrienne Repsher then singled. Sophomore Amanda Carver was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Coach Elaine Sortino pulled Salato in favor of Brandice Balschmitter. Junior Jessica Rohn was hit by a pitch, scoring Evans. Repsher then found the plate on a wild pitch. A RBI single courtesy of Makeala Compton brought Carver home.
The Minutewomen scored one run in the fourth and four in the sixth to secure the win.
The Owls, currently in fourth place in the A-10, next travel to Staten Island to take on the Wagner Seahawks in a doubleheader on April 19. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM.
