Softball Wins 9-7 Slugfest Against Charlotte; Hits Four Homeruns in Contest

Thursday, March 28

Ambler, Pa.

3 p.m.

Temple University

10-14, 2-1

Charlotte

14-11, 2-1

Charlotte

Temple University

Photo by: Dave Schofield

Softball Wins 9-7 Slugfest Against Charlotte; Hits Four Homeruns in Contest

3.28.13 | Softball

Box Score

AMBLER, Pa. – Junior Sarah Prezioso hit two homeruns, and classmates Stephanie Pasquale and Devynne Nelons each had one as the Temple softball team outslugged Charlotte for a 9-7 Atlantic 10 win on Thursday, March 28. The 49ers hit three homers in the game that featured 21 combined hits.

Charlotte (14-11, 2-1 A-10) got on the board first with two runs in the top of the first. Briana Gwaltney hit a two out double before Chelsea Ingersoll stepped in to belt her first of two homeruns on the day for the 2-0 lead.

TU (10-14, 2-1 A-10) responded with two of its own in the bottom of the frame. Annie Marcopolus led off with a slap single to short and Ali Robinson walked before Prezioso singled to drive in the first run. Pasquale followed with an RBI double to make it 2-2 with no outs. Charlotte pitcher Katie Watkins got out of the inning without further damage by striking out the final three batters.

The 2-2 game lasted until the bottom of the fifth when the Owls exploded for five runs on five hits, three of them homeruns. After an out to open the inning, Prezioso and Pasquale clubbed back-to-back homers to chase Watkins. Chelsea Lisikatos came on in relief, and the Cherry & White welcomed her with two-straight singles before Nelons hit her first homer of the season to make it a 7-2 game in TU's favor.

Both teams scored twice in the sixth, with all of the runs coming on homers, before the 49ers made it interesting in the top of the seventh. Trailing 9-4 entering the frame, the visitors were down to their final two outs when Natalie Capone doubled down the left field line, Alex Rogers singled up the middle and Gwaltney sent a 2-2 pitch sailing over the right centerfield fence to pull her team within two, 9-7.

TU pitcher Kelsey Dominik finally stopped the bleeding by getting deep-ball threat Ingersoll to ground out to shortstop on the first pitch. Jessica Plemmons hit a two-out double as the next batter, but Dominik induced a pop fly to end the game.

Dominik (5-1) went the distance, giving up 11 hits, seven runs, one walk and striking out two. Watkins (8-8) lasted 4.1 innings, allowing five hits, four runs, three walks and fanning six. Lisikatos gave up five hits and five runs, while striking out one, in her 1.2 innings of relief.

Prezioso finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Pasquale was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Gwaltney was 3-for-3 for the 49ers with three RBI and three runs scored.

Temple and Charlotte meet again on Friday for a 3 p.m. game.

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