March 22, 2009
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - Sophomore shortshop Ali Shepherd went 3-for-6 and drove in three runs to lead La Salle to two wins over Temple on Sunday. The Explorers won 3-0 in the first game and trounced the Owls 8-0 in five innings in game two. With the wins, the Explorers improve to 3-9 overall and even their conference record at 2-2. The Owls fall to 1-17, 0-4 in the Atlantic 10.
It was a special day for the Explorers, who were playing for the first time on their brand new on-campus field.
The Explorers posted two runs in the bottom of the second inning in game one to kick start the scoring. Angelina Bisbiglia - who went 3-for-5 on the day - belted a lead-off single to center. Shannon Skomorucha bunted to Owl pitcher Katie Burdeaux and reached on a fielder's choice, but Bisbiglia stayed on base as well when Burdeaux's throw to second was late. Two outs later, Alicia De La Rosa reached base on a walk to load the bases. Shepherd then knocked her first hit of the day, a two-RBI single to center to score Skomorucha and Bisbiglia.
The Explorers added an insurance run in the fourth. Laura Gallagher walked and later scored on a Shepherd double to right field.
The Owls made things interesting in the top of the seventh. After two straight outs to start the inning, Christina Sykora doubled to right. Pinch hitter Jess Hirschbuhl reached on a fielding error by Shepherd, and pinch runner Michelle Lerner advanced to third. Christine Schlichter then reached when she was hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, the Owl threat was thwarted on the next play. Amanda Carver drove a ball in the direction of De La Rosa, who was interfered with by Schlichter for the third out.
Gina Massaro earned the win on the mound for the Explorers. She went seven innings, while giving up only two hits, no runs, and striking out three. Burdeaux suffered the loss for the Owls. She pitched six innings, gave up three runs on five hits, walked four and struck out five.
After two scoreless innings in the second game, the Explorers burst the game open with four runs on two outs in the third. Gallagher led off with a single up the middle. Two outs later, Teddi Hernandez singled through the left side, advancing Gallagher to third. The bases loaded when Mary Pat Conville drew a walk. Gallagher then reached home on a wild pitch. Conville and Hernandez moved to second and third on a subsequent passed ball, and Bisbiglia re-loaded the bases by drawing a walk.
Another wild pitch scored Hernandez for the second run of the inning. DJ Guinn then belted the ball to centerfielder Amanda Carver, who dropped the fly ball and scored Bisbiglia and Conville.
The Explorers added four more runs in the fourth on three hits and an Owl error. Hernandez added her second hit of the game, a single to left center, following a lead-off De La Rosa walk. Following a pitching change, Conville loaded the bases with a single to left. Bisbiglia followed up with a RBI single to score De La Rosa. A wild pitch then scored Hernandez. Skomorucha then hit to pitcher Sarah Reynolds, who overthrew to first and scored Bisbiglia and Conville.
The Owls never seriously threatened in the fifth, and the game ended due to the run rule.
Guinn was credited with the win in game two. She went all five innings, gave up no runs on four hits, while striking out four. The Owls' Lauren Spoo earned the loss. She went 3.1 innings and gave up six runs on six hits, four of which were earned. She walked five and struck out one. Reynolds went 0.2 inning in relief and gave up two runs on two hits, but neither run was earned.
Also notable in the second game was that the Explorers did not commit a single error.
The Explorers return to action on Wednesday when they host Saint Peter's in a non-conference doubleheader starting at 3:00 PM.
