Temple University Athletics
Softball Drops Pair of Close Games to Fordham
4.27.08 | Softball
April 27, 2008
AMBLER, PA. - Unable to pick any breaks late in the season, the Temple softball team dropped a pair of close games to conference rival Fordham from the Ambler Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon. In the first game, the Owls (13-22, 3-15) let a 3-0 lead slip away, falling to the Rams 5-4 in nine innings. In the second game, the Rams (31-24, 10-6) held on for a 3-1 win.
In the first game, it looked as if the Owls were finally about to break out of their late season funk. The Cherry and White took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when senior Teresa Bonavita knocked in fellow senior Natalie Wagner with a sacrifice fly to centerfield for the Owls first run in nearly a week. The Owls added to the lead an inning later as senior Anna Rico and junior Chante' Pleydle both advanced on walks an used some crafty base running to score, giving the Owls a 3-0 lead.
Behind another outstanding pitching performance form junior Katie Burdeaux (6-10), the score remained 3-0 until the top of the sixth. In the sixth, after the Rams cut into the margin to make 3-1, Samantha Pellichio blasted a two-run homer to tie the game 3-3.
Not to be outdone, Burdeaux helped her own cause the very next inning with a solo home run to give the Cherry and White a 4-3 lead heading into the final frame.
Just one out away from snapping a season long losing skid, the Owls were unable to shut the door on the Rams. Fordham's Jocelyn Deerborn smacked an RBI double to tie the game at 4-4.
In extras, the Rams took the lead for good in the top of the ninth when Fordham's Allison Storc hit the go-ahead solo home run, making the score 5-4.
Fordham's Allison Twarowski picked the victory for the Rams in relief, striking out four. Burdeaux took the loss, allowing five runs over nine innings and striking out five.
In the second game, the Owls outhit the Rams 8-5 but were unable to get those runners across the plate, as the Owls fell 3-1.
Fordham got on the board in the third inning when Twarowski helped her own cause with a two-run homer to give the Rams an early 2-0 lead.
The Owls answered right back in the next inning when Burdeaux knocked in Wagner, cutting the lead to 2-1. But that was all the runs the Owls would manage for the game, batting 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position for the game.
Wagner, Bonavita and freshman Chelsea Reicher paced the offense for the Cherry and White in the second game, each recorded tow hits apiece.
Freshman Amanda Branco took the loss for the Owls, allowing three earned runs in 4.2 innings of work.
The Owls will close out the home campaign on Wednesday, April 30th when they host city rival Villanova in doubleheader action. Play is scheduled to begin at 3:00.
