Temple University Athletics
Dickson Returns to Norman as Owls Set Sights on OU Residence Inn Invitational
3.2.07 | Softball
March 2, 2007
NORMAN, OK - Second-year head coach Casey Dickson, a three-time all-Big 12 selection at Oklahoma and ranked third all-time on the Sooner's career RBI list (166), returns to Norman, Okla. with her Temple Owls for the OU Residence Inn Invitational on Saturday March 3 and Sunday, March 4.
On day one, the Cherry and White meet Wichita State at 1:15 p.m. EST before playing #6 Oklahom at 5:45 p.m. EST. Day two pits the Owls against Wichita State at 11:00 a.m. EST followed by the host Sooners at 1:15 p.m. EST.
Dickson, with first-year assistants Ashley Moore and Lauren Nicholson, and the Owls arrive in Norman 0-4 overall following the season-opening Worth Wildcat Tournament in Tucson, Ariz. the weekend of February 16 - 18. The Cherry and White were bested by Middle Tennessee State (12-11), Arizona (9-1), Virginia (11-8) and Texas Tech (10-2), but turned several heads with a powerful offensive artillery.
Sophomore catcher Courtney Norene received the Atlantic 10's Player of the Week (2/19) honor following her standout performance in Tucson. In the tournament's opening contest against MTSU, Norene thrice homered while knocking in six runs. Hours later, against the defending National Champion Wildcats, Norene launched a solo homerun that now places her in a four-way tie all-time on the Temple career homerun list with eight. Norene begins the weekend action leading the Owls in batting at a .636 (7-for-11) clip.
Senior Adrienne Respher also catapulted herself up the Temple record book ladder with two homeruns in the marathon loss to MTSU. Repsher's solo shots, in the first and fifth innings, moves her into a tie for third place all-time on the Owls' career homerun list with 11. The local Nazareth, Pa. product escaped the Worth Wildcat Tournament with a .308 (4-for-13) average.
Freshman catcher/outfielder Krystle Metzler also sent a message at the dish in her debut with the Owls. Trailing by three runs in the fifth inning against Virginia, Metzler launched a three-run homerun. Following the 10-2 loss to the Red Raiders, Metzler had knocked in six runs in two games on Saturday. Metzler ranks second among all Owls batting .545 (6-for-11).
Dickson will look to sophomore Katie Burdeaux and freshman Ashley Smuda for pitching duties this weekend. Burdeaux (0-1) tossed seven innings in Tucson while striking out five. Smuda, despite collecting three losses, threw 14.2 innings, struck out 11 and posts a team-best 4.77 ERA. Smuda's most impressive outing to-date came against the Wildcats when the Scottsdale, Ariz. native threw three innings of shutout ball.
For live stats for the OU Residence Inn Invitational, please click here.
Following the weekend slate in Norman, the Cherry and White return to Philadelphia briefly before taking to the air again for the Stetson Tournament, in DeLand, Fla., from Friday, March 9 to Sunday, March 11.
