Prezioso Goes 4-for-7 With a Triple in Doubleheader Split at Monmouth

Wednesday, April 17

West Long Branch, N.J.

3 p.m.

Temple University

19-17

Monmouth

23-14

Temple University

Monmouth

Photo by: Mitchell Leff

Prezioso Goes 4-for-7 With a Triple in Doubleheader Split at Monmouth

4.17.13 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Junior Sarah Prezioso went a combined 4-for-7 in Temple softball's doubleheader split at Monmouth on Wednesday afternoon. The shortstop was 2-for-3 in TU's 7-3 game one victory, and went 2-for-4 in an 8-5 loss in the nightcap.

In the opener, the Owls built a 7-0 lead thanks to a two-run third inning and a five-run outburst in the fourth. Two errors and two hits in the third frame helped TU cross the plate twice. Stephanie Pasquale's one-out double drove in the first run and extended the catcher's hit streak to 20 games. Ali Robinson then stepped in and reached base on a fielding error, allowing Prezioso, who had reached earlier on a single, to score for the 2-0 lead.

The Cherry & White pounded out six hits in the fourth, batting around in the inning. Annie Marcopolus picked up an RBI double in the inning and Kelsey Dominik drove in two on her single up the middle.

Monmouth got on the board in the sixth, plating three runs to cut it to 7-3. The Hawks had four hits, which included two infield hits, and took advantage of one Temple error in the inning. After sitting the Owls down in order in the top of the seventh, the host team made it interesting with a single and a walk in the bottom half to put two runners on, but Dominik induced a groundout for the third and final out.

Dominik (9-2) gave up 10 hits in the complete game effort, seven of them in the infield. The rookie walked five and struck out four, allowing three earned runs. Lauren Sulick (8-5) took the loss in 4.0 innings of work, giving up nine hits, seven runs (only five earned), walking three and striking out four. Jordan Barnett worked 3.0 innings of relief, allowing just two hits and fanning four.

Temple jumped on top 2-0 in game two after one half of the first, but the Hawks took a 4-2 advantage in the bottom and added another run in the second to build a 5-2 lead. The Owls got back in the game when Robinson let off the fourth with a homerun, and after a Leah Lucas single put a runner on, Dominik doubled to drive her in.

TU tied it up in the fifth after Prezioso tripled with one out and Pasquale's groundout to second plated her for the 5-5 game. The lead was shortlived, however, as Monmouth scored twice in the bottom of the frame, using two hits, two walks and an error to jump back on top.

The Owls got two singles and a hit by pitch to open the sixth and threaten the lead, but Barnett, who had come on in relief of Cerissa Rivera in the fourth, sat down the next three batters to get out of the inning unscathed. The host team added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning to make it 8-5.

Pasquale led off the seventh with an infield single, giving the Cherry & White life and extending her hit streak to 21 games. But again, Barnett got the next three out to end the game and pick up the win.

Jessica Mahoney (3-10) took the loss in 5.0 innings, giving up 10 hits and eight runs, although only four were earned. Barnett (8-4) gave up six hits, one run, one walk and two strikeouts in 4.0 innings.

Temple (19-18, 7-3) will head to the Midwest for two Atlantic 10 single games against Saint Louis on Friday and Saturday, and a doubleheader with conference newcomer Butler on Sunday.

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