Temple University Athletics
Wichita State Downs Temple, 9-2
3.4.07 | Softball
March 4, 2007
NORMAN, OK - Senior first baseman Adrienne Repsher collected two RBI, but the Temple softball team (0-7) surrendered eight first innings runs before falling, 9-2, to Wichita State (8-12) late Sunday morning on day two of the OU Residence Inn Invitational in Norman, Okla. Temple freshman Ashley Smuda (0-4) lasted 5.2 innings while allowing five earned runs in the loss. Junior pitcher Ashly Bright (2-6) went the distance for the Shockers while striking out 11 batters in the win.
Before the Owls stepped to the plate, the Shockers jumped on the Cherry and White early with eight runs on five hits in the opening frame. After a two-run double from freshman Elissa Zeches, senior Lisa Jones plated three more with a bases-clearing triple.
After allowing four runs, Smuda was spelled briefly for freshman Shannon James with one out in the first before re-taking the mound for the game's duration in top half of the second.
With the bases loaded and one out in top half of the third inning, Repsher, batting at a .333 (6-for-18) clip entering the contest, drove in her team-leading eighth and ninth runs of the season with a single back through the box. Smuda, after a lead-off walk, and junior Natalie Wagner, after a bunt-single, scored on the play. As the Owls cut the lead to six runs at 8-2, sophomore Nicole Lee went down swinging with three ducks on the pond.
With the two runs batted in, Repsher now moves into an eighth place tie with former Owl Judy O'Brien (1990-93) on the Temple career RBI list (61).
The Owls would pose another threat to the Wichita State lead in the top half of the fourth after Wagner sacrificed junior Amanda Carver third and Smuda to second. However, Bright responded in sending down juniors Brianna Dairy and Brittany Burks swinging.
The Cherry and White will look to pick up their first win of the season immediately following Sunday morning's game at 1:15 p.m. against the host Sooners. Oklahoma, ranked sixth-nationally, comes into the contest a perfect 21-0.
