Temple University Athletics
Owls Take Flight For UMass And First A-10 Crown Since 2004
5.7.07 | Softball
May 7, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Following a two-game split on Sunday, May 6 against Saint Bonaventure, the Temple softball team (17-19, 9-7) secured the four seed in this weekend's Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament held in Amherst, Mass. on the campus of UMass. The Cherry and White will begin their quest for their first conference crown since 2004 against fifth-seeded Charlotte on Wednesday, May 9 at noon.
UMass earned its 19th regular season title, the tournament's top seed and a first round bye after posting a perfect 18-0 conference record. The Minutewomen are followed by Fordham, also earning a first round bye, Saint Louis, Temple, Charlotte and George Washington.
After narrowly missing the postseason tournament by one game last season, the Owls exploded in 2007 to lead the conference with a .309 team batting average. Senior All-America candidate Adrienne Repsher led the Cherry and White charge with a league-best .458 batting average while finishing second with 13 home runs and fourth in RBI (39) and total bases (92). As of May 1, Repsher's 1.022 slugging percentage was the country's best.
The sophomore tandem of Katie Burdeaux and Courtney Norene have proven to be a formidable line of protection for Repsher in second-year head coach Casey Dickson's offensive attack. Norene's .358 batting average ranks eighth in the league while Burdeaux's .356 places ninth. Burdeaux and Norene have combined to hit 15 home runs while driving in 53 runs.
Junior pitcher Brianna Dairy, a transfer from Midland College, withstood a slow start to her first season at the Division I level and responded to finish with a 6-4 record and a team-best 3.08 ERA. Dairy's four complete games ranks second on the Owls roster, behind freshman Ashley Sumda's six. Both hurlers have collected two complete game shutouts.
Smuda has shoulder the bulk of Dickson's pitching duties this season while making 30 appearances and tossing 110.1 innings. The right-hander has posted a 9-10 record, a 3.36 ERA and team-best 89 strikeouts.
The Owls encounter a 49ers squad that has won 10 of their last 11 games, and six in a row. Charlotte, coming off a season-ending two-game sweep of Dayton, is offensively paced by senior Becky Matthews' team-leading .347 batting clip. Senior Kristi Killough has launched team-best seven home runs and knocked in 34 tallies.
Senior pitcher Kristen Bowen (14-11) has posted a team-high 2.41 ERA and 21 complete games while classmate Christy Murray has won 15 games.
Tickets to the Atlantic 10 Softball Championship are $7.00 for adults for single days and $20.00 for a four-day package. A-10 students and children get in for $3.00 for single day tickets and $10.00 for four-day packages. Tickets will be sold at the entrance to the UMass Softball Complex. The entire Championship can be purchased on pay-per-view for $24.95, while individual contests are $6.95.
