Temple University Athletics
Temple University
GEORGE WASHINGTON
Owls Softball Earns Sweep of George Washington in Atlantic 10 Action
4.25.10 | Softball
Marris shuts out Colonials with 10-0 and 4-0 victories
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
AMBLER, Pa. – Kristen Marris pitched every inning of a doubleheader sweep by the Temple softball team over George Washington on Sunday, April 25 at Ambler Field. Marris gave up just two hits in the opener, and one-hit the Colonials in the nightcap. With the 10-0 and 4-0 victories, the Cherry & White picked up critical wins in Atlantic 10 play to improve to 16-25 overall and 5-7 in the conference.
The Owls took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, but did most of their damage in the third and fourth innings. Christina Sykora and Ali Robinson drew walks to open the frame and Danielle Fagan followed with an RBI single to left field. Rachel Knable stepped in next and delivered a three-run shot over the left centerfield wall to give TU a 5-0 cushion.
It was more of the same in the fourth for Temple. Samantha Schoell drew another walk as the leadoff in the inning and Kristen Marris followed with a single to the pitcher to put runners on first and second. Sykora then hit a double to left field that plated both baserunners.
A GW error on the next batter allowed Sykora to come in. One out later, the Owls had loaded the bases, chasing George Washington's starting pitcher Kara Clauss. Heidi Penna came on in relief and walked the first batter she faced to force in another run. TU got its final run of the game when Krystle Metzler's groundout to second scored Fagan.
Marris walked the first batter of the fifth inning, but got the next three batters to earn the eight-run rule win in five innings. George Washington's only hits of the game came in the first and third innings. Marris struck out five in her third shutout of the season. Clauss (4-19) took the loss, giving up seven hits and 10 runs (seven earned) in 3.1 innings of work. Penna went 0.2 innings, not allowing a hit or run.
The nightcap was moving along quickly with neither team able to get to the other's pitcher through the first three innings.
Temple changed that in the fourth, where all of the damage was done. TU got five hits and four runs in the frame, and that would be all the offense necessary to earn the win. Sykora got the scoring started with her first homerun of the season, a blast that hit the scoreboard in left center. Back-to-back singles from Robinson and Fagan put two on with one out, and Knable followed with her second homerun of the day to bring in three more. Kayla Cook also had a single in the frame off of Colonials' starting pitcher Elaine Nescio, but Ali Pardo entered in relief and got the final two outs of the inning.
The Owls had a baserunner in the fifth when Schoell led off with a walk, but Pardo struck out the next two batters and got a groundout to leave Schoell stranded.
Marris carried a no-hitter into the seventh for Temple, with a game-opening walk being the only flaw in her game. Amanda Holst broke up the bid when she sent the first pitch of the final inning to left center for a single. GW couldn't capitalize, however, and the game ended 4-0 in TU's favor.
Marris (10-11) went the distance again, striking out five and allowing just the one hit in 7.0 innings. Nescio was the loser (0-11), going 3.1 innings, giving up five hits and four runs. Pardo didn't allow a hit in 2.2 innings of relief.
The Owls are back in action on Tuesday, April 27, in a conference doubleheader against Saint Joseph's beginning at 3 p.m.
