Temple University Athletics
Owls Drop North Florida, 5-3, for Season's First Win
3.9.07 | Softball
March 9, 2007
DeLAND, FL - Senior Jessica Rohn's lead-off homerun in the top half of the fifth inning supplied Temple (1-8) with a one-run lead that they never relinquished en route to a 5-3 win over North Florida (11-11) Friday afternoon in the opening game of the Stetson Tournament in DeLand, Fla.
Freshman hurler Ashley Smuda (1-4) lasted four innings while striking out three and scattering five hits as the Cherry and White, under the direction of second-year head coach Casey Dickson, recorded their first win of the 2007 campaign. Senior pitcher Katie Brosky (5-6) tossed four innings, as well, while allowing seven hits and four earned runs for the Ospreys.
The Owls' offense wasted no time in establishing its presence as senior first baseman Adrienne Repsher's two-out solo homerun in the top half of the first gave the Cherry and White an early one-run advantage. Repsher's homerun, her third this season, now moves her into a tie for second place (12) all-time with 1996 gold medalist Dionna Harris (1989-90) on the Owls' career homerun list.
North Florida responded in the inning's bottom half with two runs of their own generated with an RBI single from freshman Elizabeth Howell and a run-scoring wild pitch credited to Smuda.
Temple regained the lead, at 3-2, with two runs in the top half of the third following consecutive RBI singles from sophomore Courtney Norene and freshman Krystle Metzler. Rohn's two-out walk followed by Repsher's free pass by way of being hit by a pitch from Brosky set-up the Owls' rally.
After the Cherry and White went down quietly in top half of the fourth, the Osprey's evened the scoring after freshman Mallory Butler's double to left field scored junior Ashley Parenteau. With two outs and freshman Kara Rutenbar standing 60 feet from a North Florida lead, Smuda beared down and retired Kelli Rutenbar on a ground ball.
Following Rohn's go-ahead lead-off shot to left field, her first long-ball of the season, Repsher reached base for the second time after wearing an Osprey pitch from freshman Devyn Findlay. Norene's single through the left side of the infield advanced Repsher to third before Metzler's RBI single to left field, one of four hits in four at-bats on the day, gave the Owls a two-run cushion never to be threatened again.
Freshman Shannon James pitched a scoreless sixth, while surrendering two hits, before junior Brianna Dairy sent the Ospreys down in order in the seventh for her first save this season.
The Owls will play the second game of Friday's double-header at 7:00 p.m. against host Stetson.
