Eleven Temple Homeruns Highlight Softball's Doubleheader Sweep Over UMass

Sunday, April 28

Ambler,Pa.

12 p.m.

Temple University

25-22, 12-5

UMass

15-21, 9-6

UMass

Temple University

Photo by: Mitchell Leff

Eleven Temple Homeruns Highlight Softball's Doubleheader Sweep Over UMass

4.28.13 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

AMBLER, Pa. – Temple's powerful softball team made it a perfect 4-0 weekend with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Atlantic 10 rival UMass on Sunday afternoon, after handling Rhode Island in single games on Friday and Saturday. The Owls defeated the Minutewomen, 12-5, in game one before picking up a 10-4 victory in the nightcap, highlighted by 11 Temple homeruns combined in the games.

In the opener, Temple wasted little time taking the lead, jumping out to a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the first. Two singles and a walk in the first three batters loaded the bases for Stephanie Pasquale and the junior delivered with a three-run double to left centerfield. With the RBI, Pasquale became the Atlantic 10 single-season leader, breaking UMass's Whitney Mollica's record of 61 set in 2006.

The Minutewomen slowly chipped away over the next two innings, scoring once in the second on a Tiffany Meeks homer, and twice in the third on Quianna Diaz-Patterson's two-run homerun, to tie the game at 3-3. Freshman Kelsey Dominik (13-5) came on to relieve starting pitcher Jessica Mahoney and proceeded to sit the next seven UMass batters down in order.

In the meantime, the Temple offense went to work, scoring four times in the fourth. With the bases loaded and Dominik up to bat, Sarah Prezioso scored on a passed ball, and Pasquale also ended up coming in on the play. A few pitches later, Dominik homered to left field to drive in two more.

UMass would score one each in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Owls kept tacking on more. A Prezioso three-run homer in the fifth accounted for all of the team's runs that inning, and Leah Lucas and Dominik hit back-to-back homers to lead off the sixth, scoring the final TU runs.

Prezioso finished the contest 3-for-4 with three runs scored, in the process setting the Temple single-season record in that category. Dominik (2-for-4) and Devynne Nelons (2-for-3) also recorded multiple hits in the game.

Dominik got the win in 4.2 innings of relief, allowing four hits and two runs, walking none and striking out three. Mahoney went 2.1 innings as the starter, giving up four hits and three runs while fanning one. Caroline Raymond (12-5) took the loss, giving up 10 hits in 5.0 innings, including 12 runs and eight walks. Bridget Lemire gave up two hits and a walk in 1.0 inning of relief.

The nightcap was all about the long ball with eight homeruns in the contest, seven of those off of Temple bats. It is the second time this season the Cherry & White have hit seven dingers in a game.

The Owls led 3-2 after four innings, thanks to solo homeruns from Ali Robinson in the first, Prezioso in the third and Dominik in the fourth. After the Minutewomen briefly tied it up in the top of the fifth on Katie Bettencourt's RBI single, TU proceeded to put three on the board in the fifth, all on solo homeruns and all from players who had already homered in the game. Robinson and Prezioso hit back-to-back bombs to open the inning, chasing starter Raymond, and two-outs later, Dominik welcomed relief pitcher Lemire with her fourth round-tripper of the day.

Temple was not done there. The home team scored four more times in the sixth to create the final score, 10-4. Annie Marcopolus got in on the long-ball action, hitting a two-run homer after Julia Kastner drew a one-out walk. Two more walks and a single loaded the bases, and Lucas drew another walk to force in the third run of the inning. Dominik stepped in a sent a deep fly ball to centerfield that allowed Prezioso to tag up from third for the sacrifice fly and the final run.

Dominik (13-5) picked up her second win of the day, pitching the complete-game victory. The rookie allowed 11 hits and four runs, walked one and struck out one. Raymond (12-6) was again the losing pitcher, going 4.0 innings, surrendering five hits, five runs, walking three and striking out one. Lemire tossed 2.0 innings of relief, giving up three hits and five runs, walking four and fanning one.

Prezioso was again 3-for-4 in the game with two homeruns, while Dominik went 2-for-2 with two dingers and Robinson was 2-for-3 with two homers.

Temple improves to 26-22 overall and 13-5 in Atlantic 10 play. The Owls step out of conference mode for four mid-week games, first traveling to Iona for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader with the Gaels on Tuesday, and then hosting Delaware State in a doubleheader on Wednesday that begins at 3 p.m.

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