Temple University Athletics
Softball Opens Season With Split at FIU Tournament
2.13.09 | Softball
Feb. 13, 2009
MIAMI - MIAMI – The Joe DiPietro era began victorious, as the Temple softball team finished just one inning short of sweeping the season-opening double-header against a pair of Big East teams at the Felsburg Memorial FIU Tournament in Miami. The Owls topped Georgetown 6-3 in opening game, but fell to Saint John’s 4-3 in the final inning on Friday afternoon.
In the opening game of the 2009 season, the Owls used seven solid inning from sophomore Katie Burdueax (seven innings-pitched, six strikeouts) and two-hit performances from senior Nicole Lee and freshman Jess Hirschbuhl en route to the 6-3 victory over the Hoyas.
With the game tied 1-1, the Cherry and White took control in the top of the third inning, thanks in part to some critical mistakes by the Hoya defense.
With one out, seniors Courtney Norene and Lee got things started with back-to-back singles. Following a walk by freshman Haley Gillis, junior Krystle Metzler came to the plate with the bases loaded. She hit the ball to Hoya shortstop Samantha Peters, who bobbled the ball for the Hoyas first error of the inning, scoring Norene to give the Cherry and White a 2-1 lead. The Owls would score their second run of the inning when Hirschbuhl drew a walk with the bases loaded, scoring Lee to make it 3-1. The final run of the came off yet another Hoya error, this time by third baseman McKinley Cooper, scoring Gillis to give the Owls a commanding 4-1 lead.
The Hoyas scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to bring the score to 4-3, but the Cherry and White added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Hirschbuhl added her second hit and second RBI of the game with a one-out double down the left-field line. She would score one batter later on freshman Rachel Knable’s single, bringing the score to 6-3.
In the second game, Saint’ John’s Roxy Struble two-run home run broke a 2-2 tie in the top of seventh and the Cherry and White’s final stanza rally fell just short, as the Owls fell to the Red Storm 4-3.
Making her collegiate debut on the mound, freshman Lauren Spoo (0-1) allowed just four hits in 6.1 innings pitched while striking out four. Freshman Sarah Reynolds worked 2/3 innings in relief, allowing two earned-runs.
Falling behind 4-2 in the top half of the seventh, the resilient Owls’ comeback fell just one run short. Senior Amanda Carver scored from third base with one out on a Norene sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to 4-3. But that would be as close as the Owls would get, as Lee struck out swinging with a runner at second base to end the game.
Norene lead the way for the Cherry and White at the plate against the Red Storm with two hits and one RBI. Lee, Metzler, sophomore Chelsea Reicher and freshman Aly Pujol also hit safely for the Cherry and White.
The Owls (1-1) return to action tomorrow morning with two more games from the FIU Tournament. The Cherry and White open with Florida Gulf Coast at 10:00 a.m., followed by host FIU at 6:00 p.m. Fans can follow the action live via the “live stats” link on owlsports.com or through the FIU Web site directly.
