Temple University Athletics
Temple University
23-22, 10-5
Rhode Island
9-29, 2-10
Kastner Walk-Off Homer in the Ninth Gives Softball 9-7 Win Over Rhode Island
4.26.13 | Softball
AMBLER, Pa. – Sophomore Julia Kastner drilled a pitch over the left centerfield fence in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Temple softball team a come-from-behind 9-7 extra inning victory over visiting Rhode Island on Friday afternoon. Senior Kayla Cook had tied the game with her own two-run homer in the seventh to keep the Owls in the game.
All of Temple's runs in the game came on homeruns. The team hit five dingers in the contest.
URI struck first with a three run third inning on a Courtney Prendergast homer. Megan Congro's single and Meg Kelly's' walk had set the table for Prendergast's blast.
Sarah Prezioso made it a 3-1 contest in the bottom of the frame with a solo shot to deep centerfield and Leah Lucas tied the game at 3-3 with a two-run shot to right centerfield in the same inning. Stephanie Pasquale had walked, one of four for the slugger on the day, to put a runner on for Lucas.
The Rams took advantage of four hits, a hit by pitch and two walks in the top of the sixth to score four runs for a 7-3 edge. The Owls again responded in their half of the frame, plating two runs when Ali Robinson homered to bring in Annie Marcopolous, who had singled earlier in the inning.
After shutting Rhode Island out in the top of the seventh, TU headed to the bottom of the seventh still trailing 7-5. Lucas walked to open the inning, and one out later, Cook sent the first pitch over the left field fence to knot the game, 7-7. Pitcher Ericka Szymanski got the next two out and the game was headed to extra innings.
Both teams had opportunities in the eighth, with each leaving two base runners on to force it to another inning. URI looked like it might go back on top on a deep fly ball by Jocelyn Mattison to open the ninth, but it stayed in the park and Kastner made the catch near the wall. A walk, single and a passed ball put runners on second and third for the Rams, but Jessica Mahoney got a fly out to end the inning and the threat.
With the score still 7-7, Devynne Nelons led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk. One out later, Kastner's heroics gave the Cherry & White the 9-7 victory.
Cook was 3-for-4 in the contest with a double, homerun and two RBI. Prezioso was 2-for-4 with a homer and two stolen bases, and Kastner went 2-for-5 with a homerun. Prendergast was 2-for-3 for the Rams with a homer and three RBI.
Mahoney (6-10) went the complete game, allowing nine hits and seven runs, walking eight and striking out three. Sam Bedore (5-12) took the loss, pitching the final 1.1 innings and giving up one hit, two runs and walking three. Szymanski went the first 7.0 innings, fanning six, issuing five walks, giving up seven runs and nine hits.
Temple (23-22, 9-5 A-10) and Rhode Island (9-29, 2-10 A10) meet again for a single game tomorrow at 12 p.m.
For more information on Temple softball, visit www.facebook.com/Temple-University-Softball, and www.twitter.com/Temple_Softball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mahoney, Jessica (6-10)
L: BEDORE, Sam (5-12)
Batting:
HR: PRENDERGAST, Courtne 1
RBI: HENDRICKS, Emily 1 ; PRENDERGAST, Courtne 3 ; OLSON, Ashley 1 ; KELLY, Meg 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HENDRICKS, Emily 1 ; PRENDERGAST, Courtne 1 ; COKER, Kelly 1 ; MATTISON, Jocelyn 1 ; OLSON, Ashley 1 ; ARCHER, Taylor 1 ; KELLY, Meg 1
SB: COKER, Kelly 2 ; MATTISON, Jocelyn 1
HBP: PRENDERGAST, Courtne 1 ; KELLY, Meg 1
Batting:
2B: Cook, Kayla 1
HR: Robinson, Ali 1 ; Prezioso, Sarah 1 ; Lucas, Leah 1 ; Cook, Kayla 1 ; Kastner, Julia 1
RBI: Robinson, Ali 2 ; Prezioso, Sarah 1 ; Lucas, Leah 2 ; Cook, Kayla 2 ; Kastner, Julia 2
SH: Cook, Kayla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Marcopolus, Annie 1 ; Robinson, Ali 1 ; Prezioso, Sarah 1 ; Pasquale, Stephanie 1 ; Lucas, Leah 1 ; White, Brooklin 1 ; Raneri, Daniele 1 ; Cook, Kayla 1 ; Kastner, Julia 1
SB: Prezioso, Sarah 2
HBP: Prezioso, Sarah 1
