Softball Opens Citrus Classic with 5-1 Win Over Purdue

Friday, March 2

Orlando, Fla.

12:15 p.m.

Temple University

3-3

Purdue

10-1

Purdue

Temple University

Photo by: Ray Stauble

Softball Opens Citrus Classic with 5-1 Win Over Purdue

3.2.12 | Softball

Box Score

Knable goes 2-for-2 with two RBI

ORLANDO, Fla. – Senior third baseman Rachel Knable went 2-for-2 and drove in two runs in Temple softball's 5-1 upset of Purdue on the team's opening day of the Citrus Classic in Orlando, Fla., on Friday, March 2. The Owls improve to 3-3 on the year, while Purdue, a team receiving votes in the most recent national poll, falls for the first time this season to move to 10-1.

The Boilermakers took an early 1-0 lead on a one-out single to right field off the bat of Lindsey Rains in the top of the first.

Temple got that run right back, scoring in its half of the frame. Junior centerfielder Ali Robinson led off with a single through the right side, and quickly moved to third on two wild pitches. After senior Samantha Schoell walked to put runners on the corners, Robinson was thrown out trying to score on sophomore Stephanie Pasquale's fielder's choice to shortstop, but Schoell and Pasquale each advanced an extra base, putting them in scoring position with two outs. Knable stepped in and delivered her first RBI with a single up the middle, driving in Schoell to knot the game.

The 1-1 tie remained until TU's half of the third, when the team exploded for four runs on just one hit and one Purdue error. Pasquale was hit by a pitch and loaded the bases with one out, before Knable drew a walk to force in Schoell for the 2-1 lead. The Owls got two more on a fielder's choice and an errant throw to home that scored Pasquale and sophomore Sarah Prezioso, respectively. With two outs, sophomore pitcher Brooklin White helped herself with an RBI single to right field, plating Knable for the 5-1 advantage.

That was all the scoring either team would see the rest of the way. The Boilermakers had baserunners in three of the final four innings, but White always found a way out of the jam.

White (3-1) went the distance, allowing one run on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Katie Hackney (1-1) took the loss for Purdue, coming on in relief in the second and going 4.2 innings. She surrendered four runs, only one earned, on three hits while walking two and fanning five. Alex Whittemore started the game for the Boilermakers, lasting just 1.1 innings, giving up two hits, one run, striking out one and walking two.

Temple is 3-3 overall and continues play at the Citrus Classic with a 2:30 game against Ball State today.