Softball Splits with Saint Joseph's, Drops 14-5 Decision and Wins 10-1

Tuesday, April 9

Ambler, Pa.

3 p.m.

Temple University

16-16, 5-2

Saint Joseph's

22-3-1, 7-0

Saint Joseph's

Temple University

Photo by: Dave Schofield

Softball Splits with Saint Joseph's, Drops 14-5 Decision and Wins 10-1

4.9.13 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

AMBLER, Pa. – Temple and Saint Joseph's, the top two teams in the Atlantic 10, battled to a doubleheader split on Tuesday afternoon at Temple Softball Stadium. The Hawks (22-4-1, 7-1 A10) took the opener, 14-5, before the Owls (17-16, 6-2 A10) rebounded with a 10-1 victory in the nightcap.

The Owls fell in a deep hole early in the first game, trailing 10-0 after just two and half innings. Saint Joseph's put up seven in the top of the second thanks to seven hits that featured six-straight two-out hits, including a three-run homerun from the bat of Brandi Harkness.

The runs TU would score in the third came with one swing of the bat. Sarah Prezioso drove a ball deep over the right field fence for a grand slam to cut the score to 10-4. Julia Kastner and Ali Robinson singles sandwiched Marcopolus reaching by way of error to load the bags for Prezioso.

After a scoreless fourth from both teams, the Hawks built the advantage to 14-4 with a four-run fifth. Temple would get one back on Leah Lucas's ground out to second that scored Prezioso, who had reached on a double and advanced to third on an error. It wasn't enough to extend the game, however, and the Hawks won it 14-5 with the mercy-run rule.

Prezioso, Kastner and Stephanie Pasquale each recorded two hits for the Cherry & White. Monica Aguilar was 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored for Saint Joseph's.

Kelsey Dominik (7-2) took the loss in 1.2 innings of work, giving up seven hits and eight runs. Taryn Ashway (18-1) got the complete game victory, tossing 5.0 innings, allowing seven hits, five runs and striking out eight while walking just one.

In the second game, the freshman came through at the plate as Lucas belted two homeruns for four RBI, and Dominik hit a walk-off grand slam in the fifth to end the game by mercy rule. Lucas hit a solo shot as the leadoff batter of the second inning for a 1-0 lead, and then capped a four-run third inning with a two-run blast that put Temple on top for good after the Hawks had tied it up in the top of the third. The Owls scored five times on two hits in the fifth, including Dominik's walk-off dinger.

Lucas, Pasquale and Lacey McKeon each went 2-for-3 in the contest and Kastner was 2-for-2.

Brooklin White (4-6) was solid on the mound, going 5.0 innings, surrendering five hits and striking out three while walking none. Liz Mendez (4-3) took the loss, allowing 10 hits and 10 runs in 4.0 innings, fanning six and walking one.

TU remains home to host Dayton for a pair of conference games on Friday and Saturday. Friday's contest begins at 3 p.m. and Saturday's first pitch is at 12 p.m.

Notes: With four homeruns on the day, Temple set a new team single-season record with 47 this year…the victory in game two gave head coach Joe DiPietro his 100^th win at Temple.

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