WINTER HAVEN, Fl. – The Owls came into Wednesday’s contests with glee after their 7-4 defeats of Saint Francis (PA) and Niagara Tuesday after a seven game losing streak. Temple continued their win streak with a 4-0 win against Sacred Heart but fell in the second game 4-0 against Niagara.
Temple faced the Pioneers of Sacred Heart in their first contest and picked up the win without much competition from the opposition. It was as if Sacred Heart forgot the second part of their University’s name in the contest. Their efforts amassed to just two hits in 23 at bats and their starter was knocked out of the second inning giving up four runs on five hits. Their first hit came in the fifth inning off Temple starter Kelsey Dominik. She should have just been called “Domination” as she pitched a complete game shutout only letting up two hits and a walk while recording four strikeouts.
SS Sarah Prezioso was the ignition on offense and did so in prototypical leadoff fashion going 2-2 with two runs, two RBI and a steal. CF Annie Marcopulus added a RBI triple in the contest and LF Toni Santos went 2-3 at the plate.
After basking in the Florida sunlight following their convincing win, the Owls had no time to rest.
You know the Purple Eagles were thinking about their loss to the Owls the day before and retaliated to a 4-0 win.
Temple SP Jessica Mahoney was on the hill for the Owls but Niagara hit her around early loading the bases with no one out in the first. Cleanup hitter Bridget Hogan continued the run of hits with a two RBI single of her own soaring the Purple Eagles to a 2-0 lead.
Mahoney needed some major stops to hold the runs and got, not one but, three of them. With the bases loaded, she got three Purple Eagles out via two groundouts and a fly out. A momentum shift in a huge way for Temple as the lead didn’t surface to more.
Niagara starter Sydney Smyers checked the Owls hitters from getting a flow going on offense as Temple only put three runners in scoring position through the first five innings. With CF Annie Marcopolus at second and one out in the fifth, the Owls couldn’t bring her home as a crucial run was left stranded in scoring position.
Niagara got some insurance in the sixth as SS Chanelle Ward and LF Ambur Farmer hit back to back RBI singles. Up four, RP Jennifer Sansano got SS Sarah Prezioso to strike out and secure the 4-0 win.
Mahoney (1-3) pitched a complete 6.0 innings giving up four runs on seven hits and had two strikeouts. Smyers (1-0) and Sansasno combined to give up just four hits and strike eight Owls out in the affair.
The Owls (5-9) face Sacred Heart and Manhattan, Friday in Winter Haven, Fla.
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