Temple University Athletics
Owls Open A-10 Season With 10-2 Win Over La Salle
3.30.07 | Softball
March 30, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - The Temple softball team (5-11, 1-0), under the direction of second-year head coach Casey Dickson, began its Atlantic 10 regular season schedule off on the right foot Friday afternoon following a 10-2 win over La Salle (8-11, 2-3). True freshman hurler Ashley Smuda (4-6) collected her second complete game this season while striking out a career-best eight batters.
The Cherry and White offensive attack was led by senior Adrienne Repsher. Repsher's 3-for-4 day was complemented with two runs batted in and one run scored. Juniors Anna Rico, Amanda Carver and sophomore Katie Burdeaux also turned in 2-for-3 plate appearances while scoring two runs.
"If we continue to hit the ball the way we did this afternoon, we'll put ourselves in a good position to win the Atlantic 10," praised Dickson. "With an all-around performance like today's, it's difficult to acknowledge one single contributor. It was a great team effort."
Burdeaux's solo homerun in the second inning, her third this season, kick-started the Temple offense. The Explorers responded in the bottom half with their lone two runs of the afternoon before the Owls hung a four-spot in the top of the third taking a commanding 5-2 lead that would never be relinquished.
Rico doubled home two runs before a Repsher RBI base-hit. True freshman Krystle Metzler continued her early-season success at the plate with an RBI double to right field that scored Repsher.
The Owls added to their comfortable margin with three runs in the top half of the fourth. Junior Natalie Wagner led off the frame with a solo homerun, the first of her Temple career. After senior Jessica Rohn collected the 100th hit of her Cherry and White career, Dickson and company got runs from Carver and Rico.
La Salle starting pitcher Laura DeZolt lasted just 3.2 innings before giving eight earned runs on 11 Temple hits.
After allowing five hits in the first three innings, Smuda in surrendering two the rest of the way. With the win, the Scottsdale, Ariz. native lowers her team-best ERA to 4.08.
The Owls and Explorers meet again in game two of the two-day series at noon on Saturday.
