Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Rhode Island
Softball Splits with Rhode Island, Falls Just Short of Atlantic 10 Playoffs
5.9.10 | Softball
Owls win first game, 5-2; Drop second 3-2 in 10 innings
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
KINGSTON, R.I. – History repeated itself today, and it wasn't a story the Temple softball team wanted to relive. Needing to win both games at Rhode Island to secure a spot in the Atlantic 10 playoffs, the Owls put themselves in good position with a 5-2 win in the first game, but fell 3-2 in 10 innings in the nightcap at the URI Softball Complex on Sunday, May 9.
The scenario was nearly identical to the 2009 season when the Cherry & White needed just one win in their final two games of the season to earn a spot in the playoffs and ended up dropping a 12-inning decision to St. Bonaventure in the final game to just miss the tournament.
The Owls jumped on top of the Rhode Island early in the first game, scoring three runs in the first two innings. Kristen Marris led off the game with a single to second base, and after a Samantha Schoell sacrifice moved Marris to second, Ali Robinson's hit got the best of the right fielder and Marris scored from second on the miscue while Robinson advanced all the way to third. Robinson scored on the next batter when Danielle Fagan reached on an error by the second baseman.
TU added another run when Schoell doubled down the left field line to bring in Christine Schlichter, who had reached with a single earlier in the inning.
The Rams got on the board with two of their own in the bottom of the second. A walk to open the frame put a baserunner on and then two-straight singles brought the lead runner around to score. Rhode Island's other run of the inning came when Kelly Coker, who had singled earlier, scored while Temple was getting the final two outs of the inning at first and second.
The score held at 3-2 for the next three innings before the Owls added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth thanks to two hits and three errors. Schlichter reached on an error with one out, advancing to third on the play before a throwing error allowed her to score. Two singles and another error loaded the bases and Rachel Knable drew a walk to force in the second run and make it 5-2. That score would hold for the Temple victory.
Marris (13-14) earned the win with a complete game four-hitter, striking out three. Alison Hartzell (8-7) took the loss, going the distance and allowing seven hits while fanning seven.
It took a little longer for the offense to get going in the nightcap, but when it did, it was the host team taking the early lead with a two-run third inning. The Rams loaded the bases when Jackie Kampmeier was hit by a pitch, Brittany Julich followed with a single to left field and Nicole Massoni drew a walk. One out later, Leah DiBussolo delivered a two-run shot to right field to give her squad the lead.
Temple cut the lead in half when Kayla Cook, who was hit by a pitch to open the inning, scored after an error moved her to second, a Marris single advanced her to third and Schoell was hit by a pitch to force in the run.
Down to their final at bat in regular innings, TU took advantage of a hit and two Rhode Island miscues to tie up the game and send it to extra innings. Schlichter recorded a single in the frame and advanced to second on a fielding error by the second baseman. Marris reached on another second baseman error and Schlichter came around to tie it up.
Fagan singled up the middle in the top of the eighth with one out to give Temple a baserunner, but Rams' pitcher Jayshree Narendran got two groundouts to get out of the threat.
RIU put the leadoff runner on in the bottom of the ninth when DiBussolo singled to center field, but this time Marris retired the side to hold the 2-2 tie.
The game finally came to an end in the bottom of the 10th inning. Amanda Sbei opened it with a single to center field and Kampmeier advanced her to second with a sacrifice bunt. With one out, Melissa Wilson hit a ball to right field that was misplayed and Sbei came around from second for the dramatic game-winning run. The win put the Rams into the Atlantic 10 tournament in the sixth-spot and left the Owls in seventh place for the second year in a row.
Narendran (4-10) pitched all 10 innings for Rhode Island, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out six. Marris (13-15) threw 9.2 innings, giving up five hits and three runs, two earned, while fanning seven.
Temple finishes the year at 19-30, 8-12 A-10. Rhode Island is 19-33, 8-12 A-10.
