Temple University Athletics
Late Home Run Dooms Owls In 7-4 Loss To UMass
4.21.07 | Softball
April 21, 2007
AMBLER, PA - The Temple softball team (11-16, 5-5) dropped its second consecutive decision Saturday afternoon following a 7-4 loss to Atlantic 10 front-running Massachusetts (24-12-1, 10-0) at the Ambler Softball Field. Owls' starter Brianna Dairy (2-3) lasted just 2.1 innings after surrendering five hits and four earned runs.
Minutewomen freshman hurler Bailey Sanders (6-4) tossed 5.1 innings while striking out four and scattering three hits. Sophomore ace Brandice Balschmiter worked 1.2 innings for her first save of the season.
"These two games with UMass are two games that we can really learn from as a team," commented second-year head coach Casey Dickson. "I honestly feel that these lessons learned will help us down the stretch."
Similar to Friday, the Cherry and White found themselves in an early hole after spotting the Minutewomen a four-run cushion after three innings. Junior Stacy Cullington's lead-off home run to left centerfield ignited a two-run third inning off three hits. Freshman hurler Ashley Smuda came on in relief and battled out of a bases-loaded jam.
Smuda turned in 4.2 innings of work while allowing three earned runs and five hits in the no-decision.
Temple cut the UMass lead in half with a two-out rally in the bottom half of the sixth. With the bases-loaded, Minutewomen shortstop Whitney Williams committed her second error of the game, off the bat of senior Jess Rohn, scoring juniors Anna Rico and Amanda Carver.
Cullington responded in the top half of the sixth with a two-run homerun that would prove to be costly for the Owls. With the bases-loaded in the bottom half, Rico's single into rightfield scored pinch runner Brittany Burks and cut the lead to 6-3. Balschmiter emerged from the UMass bullpen before tossing a passed ball that would plate the Owls' fourth run. However, with two runners on base, junior Natalie Wagner went down swinging.
Senior Adrienne Repsher's streak of games with at least one home run came to an end at six. Entering the contest, the left-hander had homered in eight out of the last nine games.
Immediately following the game, family, friends and alumni were on hand to join the Temple softball team in a heart-warming dedication ceremony in honor of Owls' late head coach Rocci Pignoli.
The Cherry and White will look to end their recent two-game Atlantic 10 skid Sunday afternoon in a doubleheader with Rhode Island starting at noon. In between games, seniors Repsher and Rohn will be honored for their four years of hard work and dedication to the Temple softball program.
