Softball Drops Two at City of Clearwater Spring Invitational

Saturday, March 16

Clearwater, Fla.

11 a.m.

Temple University

6-11

Maryland

10-15

Temple University

Maryland

Photo by: Dave Schofield

Softball Drops Two at City of Clearwater Spring Invitational

3.16.13 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Temple softball team dropped two games at the City of Clearwater Spring Invitational on Saturday afternoon, falling 6-1 to Maryland and 6-5 to Liberty in eight innings. The Owls drop to 6-12 with the losses.

Maryland got on the board early, scoring twice in the bottom of the first and three times in the third. The Terps used three hits, including a two-run double, to get its runs in the first. In the third, it was another three hits that led to three runs, including an RBI triple in the frame.

After giving up one more run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 6-0, TU finally got on the board with a run in the top of the sixth. Ali Robinson led off the inning reaching on an error and advancing to third. Sarah Prezioso followed with a ground out to first, allowing Robinson to cross the plate.

The Owls could only muster three hits in the game with Robinson, Stephanie Pasquale and Kayla Cook each going 1-for-3 in the contest. Pasquale's hit was a double, her seventh of the season.

Jessica Mahoney (0-6) took the loss in 6.0 innings, allowing eight hits, six runs, walking one and striking out seven. Kaitlyn Schmeiser (5-7) got the complete-game win, giving up the three hits, one unearned run, walking none and fanning 12.

In the Liberty game, the Flames took the early lead with a run in the bottom of the first on Amber Donovan's two-out one-run double to center field. The lead was shortlived, though, as the Owls responded with one in the top of the second and another in the third.

In the second, Pasquale led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kelsey Dominik's single advanced her to third, and Julia Kastner drove her in with a single to left. Pasquale was also involved in the run in the third, driving in Robinson who had reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the frame.

After Liberty went ahead with a two run fourth, Temple put one up in each of the next two innings to again take a 4-3 lead. Sarah Prezioso's solo homerun in the fifth accounted for the run, while a Cook double in the sixth plated pinch runner Gina Pellechio.

The Flames knotted it up a 4-4 with a run in the bottom of the sixth, and neither team could score in the seventh, forcing the game to extra innings.

TU grabbed the lead again in the top of the eighth when Brooklin White scored on a wild pitch. Liberty did one better, however, scoring twice in the bottom of the frame to end the game. Megan Robinson had a timely bunt single to the pitcher that scored Blair Lawrence to tie the game, 5-5. After Kassidy McCoy walked to load the bases, Grace Nordan showed patience at the plate and drew another free pass to bring in the winning run.

Dominik (3-1) was the hard luck loser, tossing a complete game, giving up seven hits, six runs, only three earned, walking four and striking out six. Chandler Ball (4-5) earned the win as the third Liberty pitcher in the game, going 2.2 innings and surrendering just one hit and one run while striking out one.

Pasquale (3-for-4) and Dominik (2-for-4) recorded multiple hits in the contest.

The Cherry & White (6-12) close out play at the tournament with a 9:30 a.m. game against Iowa State.

For more information on Temple softball, visit www.facebook.com/Temple-University-Softball, and www.twitter.com/Temple_Softball.