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Saint Joseph's University

Saint Joseph's Hawks
Saint Joseph's Hawks
TEMPLE RALLIES TO DEFEAT SJU, 5-4, IN A-10 TOURNEY OPENER

Softball SJU Athletic Communications

DEFENSIVE WOES LEAD TO DOUBLE DEFEATS FOR HAWKS

PHILADELPHIA (03/29/02) - Ugly would be a mild way to describe Saint Joseph's doubleheader against the Temple Owls at Erny Field on Saturday afternoon. Playing hosts to Temple on its own field for the second straight day, the Hawks committed eight errors in the twinbill, dropping both contests, 9-6 and 5-4 in nine innings, to the Owls. In the opener, the Hawks went out to a 4-0 lead after five innings. SJU scored a solo run in the fourth as freshman Robin Berry's bunt single scored senior Missy Rhoades, who had doubled to left center. Three more runs were added in the bottom of the fifth with Rhoades, who was 3-4 with two runs and two RBI, providing the big hit, a two-run triple that plated freshman Alicia Cunic and senior Teresa Andreani. Then junior pitcher Brandie Adams, who had limited Temple to a single hit through five tired. The Owls started the inning off two singles and had a third batter reach base via an error to load the sacks. Then junior first baseman Bari Lynn Pflueger doubled down the left field line to score two runs. Hawk coach Moo Moyer went to the mound and relieved Adams, putting in sophomore Dana Travis. The Hawk hurler gave up a three-run homer to junior Chrissy Harris, giving the Owls the lead, 5-4. With one out in the sixth, freshman Cara Deldeo (error) and senior Kristin Nau (single) reached base. Andreani then drove in Deldeo with an RBI single to right with Nau (3-4 on game) advancing to third on the play. Cunic then drove her in with the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to left. Travis, who had her record dip to 9-3 on the season, then had a tough seventh inning, as she was touched for four unearned runs. The Hawk pitcher hurt her own cause as she committed two errors in the inning. The Hawks were unable to mount another comeback in the bottom half of the inning, going down in order. Senior Nanci Lima picked up the win in relief for Temple, upping her record to 5-3. With both of his normal starters used in game one, Moyer went to Deldeo in the nightcap. In her first start of the season, the Hawk rookie struggled early, allowing three first inning runs on four hits, She settled down after that, allowing just four hits over the next five plus innings, and one unearned run. Again, to their credit, the Hawks did not hang their heads, but fought back. First sophomore Sandra Carroll launched her first homer of the season, a blast to left to lead-off the third inning. Two innings later, Andreani drove home Deldeo with an RBI single to cut the Owl lead to 3-2. Temple picked up an insurance run in the top of the seventh, as Katie Spencer scored off an error by the normally sure-handed Nau, her first miscue of the season. The Hawks rallied again in the bottom of the seventh. Deldeo led off the frame with a double to left center. Nau followed with a single, making it first and third. After Andreani went down on strikes, Cunic reached base on a error with Deldeo scoring and au moving to third on the play. Sophomore Lindsey McNamara hit a grounder to first, driving in Nau with the tying run. Moyer then inserted Travis to pinch run for Cunic at second base. Senior Desiree McGhie drove a single to center, but a strong throw by Katie Weigle nailed Travis at the plate to end the inning. Adams (7-1), who relieved Deldeo in the seventh, committed a throwing error in the ninth with one out, putting Weigle on second base. Leftfielder Lynsey Grace singled her to third, and the Pflueger, the Owls pitcher in game two, hit a sacrifice fly for what would prove to be the winning run. Pfleuger (3-9) pitched all nine innings for Temple, allowing just one earned run. SJU, now 16-4 on the season, 3-3 in the Atlantic 10, hosts UMass next weekend at East Norriton Field (April 6-7). Temple improves to 12-20, 3-3.
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