Houston, Tex. (3/23/14) – After a rough start in non conference play, the Owls traveled south to face the Houston Cougars in their first AAC conference game Saturday. Temple looked unprepared losing both games 0-8 without putting up much of a fight.
The Owls’ abysmal hitting showed up once again in game one. SS Sarah Prezioso led off the first with a leadoff double but she was unable to move to third due to a groundout on the right side and a strikeout. Catcher Kaylyn Zierke grounded out to end the inning blowing the only opportunity that would be presented to the Owls on the day. Owls’ starter Amanda Gatt held the Cougars to no runs through the first two innings and Houston starter Diedre Outon followed suit.
In the third, SS Selena Hernandez and LF Kendra Cullum hit back to back RBI doubles as the home team took the 2-0 lead on Temple. The Owls wouldn’t get another base runner until the fifth and couldn’t convert the chance into a run.
Gatt was holding her own until the fifth when Houston would cap off the contest with a six run inning highlighted by Hernandez and Cullum’s RBI singles driving in four. Temple would face the mercy rule and took the 8-0 loss. Gatt (2-2) only let up two earned runs but had control problems all game with five walks. Diedre Outon (6-5) pitched a near no hitter going 5.0 innings letting up only one hit and two walks.
Houston would strike early in the second game. RF Tiffani McKnight singled home the game’s first run, Cullum would steal home, and 2B Kayla Holland knocked in the third with a RBI groundout. Owls’ starter Kelsey Dominik struggled in the contest.
CF Katie St. Pierre, Hernandez, and Cullum each had RBI singles in the third and pushed the Houston lead to eight.
Houston’ starter Julana Shrum, like Outon, shut down the Owls who could only muster two hits in five innings. The Owls would go on to lose 0-8 again.
Temple (7-13, 0-2) will face Houston (15-10, 0-2) again at noon, March 23.
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