Temple Softball Season Ends with 3-1 Loss to Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte 49ers softball team had Temple's number in 2011, defeating the Owls 3-1 on Thursday, May 12, to knock TU out of the Atlantic 10 Championship, being held at D.L. Phillips Softball Complex in Charlotte, N.C. It was the second time during the double-elimination tournament that Charlotte has defeated Temple.

The Cherry and White end the season at 22-23 overall.

The fifth-seeded 49ers got on the board first with a run in the second inning. Carol Buchan sent a two-out double to right center field that scored Lorena Vela, who had reached earlier on a fielder's choice.

The fourth-seeded Owls threatened in the bottom of the fourth when freshman Sarah Prezioso walked to open the inning and classmate Stephanie Pasquale singled to put runners on first and second. But Charlotte Katy Hackett got two strikeouts and a pop fly from the next three batters to get out of the jam.

The host team had the opportunity to put a run on the board in the top of the sixth, but a heads up play from center fielder Ali Robinson prevented a run from scoring. Buchan hit a two-out single up the middle with Rock on first and Chelsea Stamey on second. Rock rounded second on the play, but thought better of going to third. Her decision to return to second was a split second too late, and Robinson tossed the ball to second baseman Rachel Knable for the tag. Stamey was trying to score on the play, but Rock was called out before the run crossed the plate.

Temple carried the momentum from that play into the bottom of the frame. Prezioso led off the inning with a single to right field. Pasquale followed with a double to right center that allowed Prezioso to come all the way around to tie the game, 1-1.

Charlotte didn't let the lead last long, though, as the squad loaded the bases with none out in the top of the seventh. Tenaya Tucker delivered an RBI single to give her team the lead again, and two outs later, Rock was hit by a pitch to force in another run.

Down to their final three outs of the 2011 season, junior Christina Sykora gave the Owls some life in the bottom of the seventh, leading off with a single to left field. But that was all the offense Temple would generate in the inning, and the season would end with a 3-1 loss.

Senior Kristen Marris (16-12) pitched the final game of her career, going 7.0 innings, allowing nine hits and three runs. Pasquale went 2-for-3 for the Owls with a double and an RBI. Hackett (21-11) got the win, going 7.0 innings, giving up six hits and one run.