Temple University Athletics
Temple University
East Tennessee State
Temple Softball Opens Season in Georgia on Saturday
2.19.10 | Softball
Owls face East Tennessee State in 2010 opener
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Temple softball team opens the 2010 season on Saturday, February 20 when it heads to Atlanta for the Georgia State Panther Invitational. First pitch of the campaign is slated for 10:00 a.m. against East Tennessee State, before the squad takes on the host team at 12:15 p.m.
The Owls will then square off against Eastern Illinois on February 21 at 10:00 a.m. Depending on the three-game outcome, Temple will either play for third place at 2:30, or the title at 4:45 p.m.
Temple, under the direction of second-year head coach Joe DiPietro, looks to improve on its 15-25 overall record from a year ago.
Senior Krystle Metzler is one of three captains on the team after a solid junior campaign which saw her earn Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference honors. The Owls' starting catcher for all 40 games last season, Metzler sported a .996 fielding percentage behind the plate while catching 12 runners stealing.
Fellow seniors Michelle Lerner and Danielle Fagan join Metzler in the tri-captains' role. In her first season with TU after transferring from Eastern Kentucky, Lerner played in 26 games for the Owls last year, starting 19 of those at second base.
Fagan may be a name Temple fans remember, although it's been four years since she has put on a Cherry & White uniform. The power hitter played for TU as a freshman, setting the then-record for homeruns in a season with eight. After transferring to New Mexico State for her sophomore and junior seasons, Fagan is back to finish her career as an Owl.
After the trip to Georgia, Temple will return south two weeks later to play in the 2010 Under Armour Invitational and Showcase, held March 5-14, and hosted by South Florida. TU will face strong competition at the event, including Jacksonville State, a team receiving votes in the national polls. The Owls will also step out of tournament play while in Florida for a doubleheader at Bethune-Cookman on March 10.
