Softball Comes From Behind to Defeat Charlotte, 10-5

Saturday, March 24

Charlotte, NC

12 p.m.

Temple University

12-11, 2-0

Charlotte

13-13, 0-2

Temple University

Charlotte

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Softball Comes From Behind to Defeat Charlotte, 10-5

3.24.12 | Softball

Box Score

Owls sweep 49ers in Atlantic 10 opening series

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Stephanie Pasquale delivered a grand slam in the fifth inning to put the Temple softball team ahead, 6-5, and the squad never looked back in a 10-5 win at Charlotte on Saturday afternoon. Temple trailed 2-1 in the top of the second inning when today's game resumed after being postponed due to rain last evening.

The Owls (12-11, 2-0 A-10) again got on the board early, scoring one in the top of the first. Ali Robinson led off with a single and one out later, Sarah Prezioso delivered a double to right center to put runners on second and third. Pasquale reached on a fielder's choice to load the bags, and Rachel Knable's fielder's choice that followed drove in Robinson for the 1-0 lead.

Temple pitcher Capri Catalano struggled to find her control in the bottom of the first, issuing three walks to the patient Charlotte batters. With the bases loaded, the 49ers (13-13, 0-2 A-10) then took advantage of a throwing error to score two in the inning.

While the Cherry and White bats went silent, the host team went on to collect four hits over the next three innings and build a 5-1 lead. Briana Gwaltney led off the third with a solo homerun, making it 3-1. Two singles and a walk to open the fourth loaded the bases, and a wild pitch allowed Chelsea Ingersoll to cross the plate. A Gwaltney single hit sharply to third brought in another run to build the lead to 5-1 and chase Catalano. It looked as if Brooklin White might have control issues as well, walking her first batter, but a fielder's choice and a ground out got the Owls out of the inning.

TU's bats didn't rest for long as the squad opened the fifth with five straight hits. Christina Sykora, Robinson, Samantha Schoell and Prezioso each singled, with Prezioso's plating a run, to load the bases and with one swing of the bat, Pasquale put Temple ahead 6-5 with a grand slam to right center field. That shot chased Katie Watkins and brought in Charlotte pitcher Lexi Betancourt, who, despite walking Meaghan Marley, got out of the inning with two strikeouts and a fly ball.

Prezioso was at it again in the sixth, delivering an RBI single to left center field that scored Robinson, who had reached on a fielder's choice earlier. Pasquale followed with a single and Knable drew a walk to load the bases again with two outs. Meaghan Marley came through and delivered a bases clearing double to center field to push the Temple lead to 10-5.

The Owls went down in order in the top of the seventh, bringing up Charlotte for its last attempt in regulation. Chelsea Stamey drew a walk to open the inning. Lorena Vela stepped in and hit a line drive to shortstop that Prezioso snagged and alertly threw to first to get Stamey for the double play. Samantha Slade hit a two-out double down the left field line to keep hopes alive, but White got Ingersoll to ground out to short to end the game.

White improves to 7-5 with the win, going 3.2 innings in relief, allowing just the one hit and no runs. Watkins (4-7) took the loss with 4.0 innings pitched, eight hits and six runs.

Prezioso finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Robinson (2-for-5), Sykora (2-for-4) and Pasquale (2-for-4 and four RBI) each collected multiple hits as well.

Gwaltney recorded two of Charlotte's five hits, going 2-for-3 with two runs batted in.

Temple returns home to host a non-conference doubleheader against Wagner on Tuesday, March 27, at 2:30 p.m., before playing host to La Salle for two more A-10 games on March 30 and 31.

The contest on March 31 is going to be a Pink Out game, and all fans are encouraged to demonstrate support by wearing pink. The team will be wearing pink belts, socks and jerseys in honor of the event. Baked goods will be sold and donations will be accepted. All sales and fan donations will go directly toward the Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Philadelphia to support research, awareness and treatment for women in the Philadelphia region.