Temple University Athletics
Softball Sweeps City Rival Penn, 7-1 and 7-2
4.8.09 | Softball
April 8, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - It was a long-awaited offensive explosion at the plate for the Temple softball team, as the Owls (8-21, 3-5) combined for 14 runs and 23 hits over two games en route to a sweep of city rival Penn, 7-2 and 7-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
The sweep is the Owls' first of the season and marked the team's fourth win in the last five games.
Senior Katie Burdeaux, the reigning Owlsports.com athlete of the week, was dominate again on the mound in the first game, picking up the win (3-10) by allowing just two earned runs over seven innings while striking out five.
Up 1-0 in the top of the fifth inning, the Owls took control of the game thanks to some poor fielding by the Quakers and one big hit by freshman Christina Sykora. After scoring two runs thanks to two Penn errors, Sykora smashed a two-run home run over the left-field fence, giving the Cherry and White a commanding 5-0 lead.
After the Quakers narrowed the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth, the Owls added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh on RBI singles from freshman Meghan Weingard and senior Chante Pleydle.
In the second game, four different Owls - senior Nicole Lee, junior Krystle Metzler, sophomore Chelsea Reicher and freshman Alysse Pujol - each had two hits apeice as the Cherry and White used a 14-hit attack to overwhelm the Quakers for the sweep.
Just like in the first game, it was a four-run inning that put the game out of reach early.Lee, Metzler and Pujol all singled in the top of third, while the Owls were once again aided by two Penn errors, building an early 4-0 lead.
Lee and Burdeaux both added RBI doubles in the later innings, as the Owls cruised for the 7-1 win.
Freshman Sarah Reynolds picked up the win (4-4), tossing five innings while striking out three. Freshman Lauren Spoo worked two innings in relief.
The hot-red Owls will return home to Ambler when they host conference Rhode Island for a doubleheader on Friday. The first game is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
