The Owls suffered a 3-2 loss to Sacred Heart to start their Friday games, but then cruised past Manhattan College, 13-3.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Kelsey Dominik started the game against Sacred Heart and turned in a solid performance. Dominik kept the Pioneers off the board until the fourth inning, when an RBI single, followed by an RBI groundout to second, gave Sacred Heart a 2-0 lead.
Temple responded in the top of the fifth. Sophomore center fielder Annie Marcopolus tripled to drive in senior third baseman Devynne Nelons. Then, with two outs, sophomore first baseman Leah Lucas singled Marcopolus home to tie the game.
Temple had a chance to take the lead in the seventh, with Marcopolus, senior shortstop Sarah Prezioso and freshman left fielder Toni Santos all singling to load the bases with no outs. But Lucas struck out looking and then Dominik hit into a double play to end the inning.
The game went to extra innings, and each team placed a runner on second to start their half of the inning, in compliance with collegiate softball rules. The Owls advanced their runner to third, but were unable to drive her home.
In the bottom of the frame, the Pioneers also succeeded in moving their runner up with a groundout. The next batter singled, and the runner came home to give Sacred Heart the victory.
Against Manhattan, the Owls’ offense gave their best showing of the season. In the first inning, Temple sent 14 batters to the plate and scored nine runs on six hits. Manhattan starter Kate Bowen, who was pulled after a third of an inning, walked three batters and hit Nelons with a pitch. The Jaspers made one error in the inning and two of Temple’s run were unearned.
Temple continued its onslaught in the second inning. The Owls scored four runs on four hits, extending their lead to 13-0.
Prezioso led the Owls, driving in two runs and scoring three times. Both Lucas and Dominik had two RBIs as well, and senior designated hitter Brooklin White hit a two-run home run to start the scoring in the second.
The Jaspers attempted a rally in the fifth inning. Elena Bowman hit a two-run shot with one out, after which Temple coach Joe DiPietro removed his starting pitcher, freshman right-hander Amanda Gatt, and replaced her with senior righty Kylie Kristovich. The Jaspers managed to score another run off Kristovich to draw the score to 13-3 with two outs, but Kristovich got the next batter to fly out to end the fifth. The game ended immediately because of the eight-run mercy rule.
The Owls finish playing in the Rebel Spring Games on Saturday. Temple squares off with Akron at 10 a.m., and then battles Saint Peter’s at noon.
Don McDermott can be reached at donald.mcdermott@temple.edu.
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