Temple University Athletics
Temple's 7-3 Win Completes Two-Game Sweep Of La Salle
3.31.07 | Softball
March 31, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Knotted at three runs apiece heading into the final inning, Temple (6-11, 2-0) plated four runs en route to winning their second game in as many days, 7-3, over La Salle (8-12, 2-4) Saturday afternoon. True freshman pitcher Ashley Smuda (5-6) tossed 5.2 innings and struck out six batters in the winning effort.
"I'm so proud of this team," boasted second-year head coach Casey Dickson, after the Owls captured their fifth win in the last nine outings. "Their enthusiasm, their offensive production and their defensive plays have been outstanding."
Senior Jessica Rohn, one day removed from collecting her 100th career hit as an Owl, paced the Owls's offensive attack. Rohn produced a 2-for-4 day at the plate with three RBI, but it was her seventh inning homerun that came at the game's most critical time.
"Jessica Rohn really displayed her veteran leadership in the seventh inning with her second homerun this season," added Dickson.
Sophomore Katie Burdeaux launched her fourth homerun of the season while junior Amanda Carver tallied her first career long-ball as an Owl.
The Cherry and White initiated the game's scoring with two runs in the top half of the third before adding another in the top half of the sixth. After scoring one run in the down half of the fourth, La Salle evened the game's scoring at three, and set the stage for the seventh, with two runs in the sixth.
Smuda's five-plus innings of work now drops her ERA below four to a team-best 3.86. In addition to her offensive influence on the game's outcome, Burdeaux notched her first save of the season.
The Cherry and White remain on the road and are back in action in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 4 at cross-city rival Penn. Game one is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.
