Saint Louis Hands Softball 7-5 Loss at Ambler Field

Saturday, April 28

Ambler, Pa.

12 p.m.

Temple University

25-20, 10-6

Saint Louis

20-30, 7-9

Saint Louis

Temple University

Photo by: Mitchell Leff

Saint Louis Hands Softball 7-5 Loss at Ambler Field

4.28.12 | Softball

Box Score

Sykora registers 100th career hit in loss

AMBLER, Pa. – Christina Sykora and Stephanie Pasquale each collected two hits, but it wasn't enough as the Saint Louis softball team defeated Temple in an Atlantic 10 showdown by a 7-5 score on Saturday afternoon at Ambler Field.

Saint Louis (20-30, 7-9) took a 4-0 lead after scoring one in the first and three in the top of the third. The Billikens got a solo homerun from the bat of Laura Bohning with two outs in the top of the first. Two innings later, the visitors put up a three-spot when Alyson Brand singled to right center to drive in Katie Kroeger, and Rachel Faletto sent a two-run shot over the left field fence.

SLU pitcher Julian Austin carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the third before senior Sykora broke it up with a sharply hit ball back to the pitcher, collecting her 100th career hit in the process. Two outs later, Ali Robinson scored on a fielding error on a Sarah Prezioso hit ball, and Pasquale followed with her fourth homerun of the season, driving in two to cut it to a 4-3 ball game.

The Owls tied it up in the bottom of the fifth. Robinson reached base when she was hit by a pitch and one out later, Prezioso drove her in with a single up the middle, knotting the score at 4-4.

The Billikens struck again in their half of the sixth, scoring twice to go ahead 6-4. After Lindsay Friedman was hit by a pitch and Jessica Buschjost walked, Kelly Flanagan stepped in with a successful pinch-hit appearance, singling through the right side to drive in one and put runners on the corners. SLU got one more in the inning when Buschjost came across on a wild pitch.

TU responded again in the bottom of the inning, putting together a two-out rally to get back within one. Sykora sent a two-out double to right centerfield, putting runners on second and third after Lacey McKeon had reached on a fielder's choice. Robinson's misplayed ball hit back to the pitcher allowed McKeon to score.

Saint Louis tacked on one more run in the top of the final inning, and TU entered its final at bats down 7-5. Prezioso led off with a walk, but a controversial double play followed and the Owls were down to their final out. Relief pitcher Kelcie Matesa struck out the final batter to get the save, her third of the year.

Brooklin White (13-10) took the loss as the second pitcher in the game, going 4.0 innings, allowing three hits, three runs, three walks and recording three strikeouts. Julian Austin (5-10) earned the win, going 6.0 innings, giving up five hits and five runs, only one of which was earned, walking one and fanning five.

Temple falls to 25-20 overall and 10-6 in league play. The Owls close out the regular-season with a doubleheader against St. Bonaventure on Sunday, May 6, at Ambler Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.