Offense Explodes in Softball's Doubleheader Sweep at Lafayette

Tuesday, April 17

Easton, PA

3 p.m.

Temple University

18-17

Lafayette

10-24

Temple University

Lafayette

Offense Explodes in Softball's Doubleheader Sweep at Lafayette

4.17.12 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Owls beat Leopards 10-2 and 9-1 for non-conference wins

EASTON, Pa. – Sophomore Stephanie Pasquale went 3-for-5 with two doubles and five runs scored in Temple's doubleheader sweep at Lafayette on Tuesday afternoon. The Owls defeated the Leopards 10-2 in game one and 9-1 in the nightcap.

In the first game, Lafayette (10-25) opened up the scoring with a solo run in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, Jordan Parsons was hit by a pitch to put a runner on, and Lauren Murphy followed with a timely double down the right field line to drive in the run.

Temple (19-17) evened the score with a run of its own in the top of the second. Pasquale led off with a double and later advanced to third on a wild pitch. Meaghan Marley drove her in with a single up the middle, knotting it at 1-1.

The Owls scored in bunches in the third, fifth and sixth innings, building a 10-2 lead.

TU got four runs in the third on a Rachel Knable grand slam after three walks had loaded the bags.

The Leopards got one back with a bases loaded walk by Alex Campanaro in the third, making it 5-2.

Knable stayed hot, doubling to right center in the fifth with one out. Lacey McKeon pinch ran for the designated player and eventually scored on a Lafayette fielding error. Christina Sykora's single, one of her five hits on the day, loaded the bases again, and Ali Robinson was hit by a pitch to drive in the second run of the inning.

The Cherry and White score three more in the sixth, building the eight run lead. Sarah Prezioso led off the frame with a double. Pasquale singled, and one out later, Marley drew a walk to load the bases. Julia Kastner hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in one, and Kayla Cook delivered a two run double, Temple's fifth of the game, to make it 10-2.

The Leopards went down in order in the bottom of the sixth and the game ended due to the mercy rule.

Capri Catalano (5-7) got the win on the mound, going 6.0 innings and allowing just four hits while striking out six and walking two. Campanaro (5-7) took the loss, giving up 10 hits, eight earned runs and six walks in 6.0 innings of work.

In addition to Knable's 2-for-4 showing with a double, a grand slam and four RBI, Pasquale, Marley and Sykora also collected two hits each.

Game two was much like the first for Temple with the team scoring early and often on its way to another run-shortened victory, this time 9-1.

Prezioso delivered a three run homerun in the top of the first after Robinson and McKeon had each walked to open the game. The Owls scored one more in the inning when Alex Stermel collected a sacrifice fly that scored Pasquale.

Lafayette scored in the bottom of the frame when Gwen Turner crossed the plate on a Parsons single down the right field line. But that was all the offense the Leopards would generate, and the Cherry and White went on to score at least one run in the last four innings on the way to the eight-run decision.

Jessica Mahoney (4-2) earned the win, going 6.0 innings and allowing just three hits while striking out three and walking two. Emily Noel (0-3) was the losing pitcher, giving up 10 hits and seven walks in 6.0 innings.

Sykora led TU with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate including a double, one RBI and one run scored.