Temple University Athletics
Softball Opens Conference Play, Drops Pair at La Salle
3.22.09 | Softball
March 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - It was not the kind of homecoming that Temple head coach Joe DiPietro was hoping for. With DiPietro facing off against his former squad for the first time since being named the head coach of the Owls, the Cherry and White dropped a pair of games to the Explorers in their conference opener, falling 3-0 and 8-0 respectively on Sunday afternoon.
Freshman Christina Sykora led the Owls' offensive attack with a double and single in the first game. Senior Amanda Carver added two singles and two stolen bases in the second game.
In the first game, the Explorers got on the board early, scoring two runs on Ali Shepard's two-out, two-RBI to give the Explorers a 2-0 lead. The Explorers added another run in the fourth innings, and starting pitcher Gina Massaro stifled the Owls' bats the rest of the way for the 3-0 victory.
The Owls (1-17, 0-2) had their chances - thanks in part to four errors by the Explorers - but struggled to find any rhythm at the plate, as Sykora added the only two hits of the game for the Cherry and White, adding a double and single.
Senior Katie Burdeaux (1-7) took the loss for the Owls, pitching 6.0 innings, allowing three runs while striking out five.
In the second game, it was two four-run innings that doomed the Owls. The Explorers scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, fueled by three hits, three walks, a wild pitch and an error. The Explorers then put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fifth in almost the exact same fashion: on three singles, a wild pitch and an error.
Carver led the Cherry and White at the plate with two singles and two stolen bases.
Spoo took the loss for the Owls, allowing four earned runs in 3.1 innings of work. Reynolds worked two-thirds of an inning, striking out one.
The Owls will look to get back into the win column when they host Wagner in double-header action from Ambler on Tuesday. Play is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.
