Temple University Athletics
Softball Uses Late-Inning Heroics to Sweep City-Rival Penn
4.10.08 | Softball
April 9, 2008
AMBLER, PA - Saving its best for last, the Temple softball team twice used some last inning heroics to sweep city-rival Penn 3-2 and 4-3 from the Ambler Sports Complex on Wednesday afternoon. Senior Natalie Wagner scored the winning run on a Penn error to win the first game while freshman Rebecca Hahn belted a three-run walk-off home run to win the second game 4-3.
Outside of the late inning heroics, junior Courtney Norene made history during the first inning of the first game, as she tied Temple all-time home run record with the 21st home run of her career.
As the sun began to set at Ambler Sports Complex during the second game of the day, the last inning of play may have given the Owls (11-12) new hope for the season. Trailing Penn 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh and facing a likely home split. For the second time in the same day, senior Natalie Wagner helped fuel the late inning rally, as her single with one-out put runners on first and second. It was then that Hahn, who had zero home runs and only one RBI on the season coming into the game, blasted the two-out, game winning home run over the left field fence to lead the Owls to the 4-3 victory
"We told our girls that for one day, we did not want to give up, and that is exactly what they did and we are very proud of them," said head coach Casey Dickson.
Junior Katie Burdeaux (5-4) earned the victory for the Owls, allowing three runs while striking out three in four innings of work. Freshman Amanda Branco pitched excellent in relief, tossing three scoreless innings and striking out three. Taylor Tieman (1-2) took the loss for Penn as she tried to close out the game
The first contest was kick-started by Norene's historic home run, giving the Owls an early 2-1 lead in the first inning. Behind a terrific pitching performance from senior Brianna Dairy, the Owls would hang on to that slim 2-1 lead until the 6th inning.
"The pitching and defense was definitely there for us in the first game," said Dickson
It was in the top of the sixth that the Quakers would finally get back on the scoreboard, as Penn's Kelsey Wolfe hit an RBI double to tie the game at 2-2.
But in the bottom of the seventh, the Owls found a way to win. Wagner singled to start the inning and later advanced to second on a stolen base. Senior Anna Rico followed that up with a bloop single to place runners at first and third. As Rico attempted to steal second, Penn catcher Alisha Prystowsky misfired on her throw to second, allowing Wagner to come home for the winning run.
Dairy picked up the victory for the Owls, allowing just two runs on three hits. Jessie Lupardus pitched well in defeat for the Quakers, allowing three runs over seven innings and striking out nine.
The Cherry and White hit the road for two key Atlantic 10 series as they head to Rhode Island for games on Friday and Saturday and Umass for a doubleheader on Sunday
