May 12, 2011

Box Score in PDF Format

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Fifth-seeded Charlotte (30-23) survived to see another day defeating fourth-seeded Temple (22-23), 3-1 in an elimination game at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Softball Championships. The 49ers scored two runs in the top of seventh to break a 1-1 tie and will advance to face Saint Joseph's in another elimination game on Friday, May 13 at 2:30 p.m.

"With the game, like I just told our kids, I think we wanted it more," said Charlotte head coach Aimee DeVos. "And that's not to say Temple didn't play a great ball game, or was in it, but we got a lot to represent here at Charlotte and we've got five seniors playing on the field and like we told `em, nobody's going to send us home today."

Whitney Williams, Kendra McCall and Carol Buchan led the 49ers' offensive attack with two hits apiece, while Katy Hackett shut down the Owls for the second time this tournament allowing just one run on six hits. The senior right hander went the distance for the 49ers as she walked two and struck out five to move to 21-11 on the year.

"Katy Hackett, we're gonna ride her as far as we can and she knows that and you know, she probably got a little tired but sometimes when you get tired the ball moves even more," added DeVos. "But she got us out of a jam, and that's what she's done all year long."

Temple was led by Stephanie Pasquale who went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in the lone Owls run on the evening. Kristen Marris (16-12) suffered the loss in the circle as she pitched all 7.0 innings allowing three runs on nine hits as she walked four and struck out one.

Charlotte struck first in game six on a two-out RBI double off the bat of Buchan in the top of the second. Lorena Vela scored on the play racing all the way from first after reaching base on a fielder's choice groundout.

Temple looked to counter in the bottom half of the inning as Ali Robinson led off with a single through the right side. Robinson advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rachel Knable but was left stranded on second after Hackett recorded a strikeout and a fly out to deep left center to maintain the 49ers one-run lead.

The Owls made some noise in the bottom of the fourth as Stephanie Pasquale led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a single by Robinson. But Hackett once again answered the call sandwiching a fly out in between a pair of strikeouts to keep Charlotte's lead at 1-0.

With runners on at first and second, Charlotte looked to add to its lead in the sixth on a two-out base hit up the middle by Buchan. Pinch runner Chelsea Stamey was rounding third and headed for home when Temple center fielder Ali Robinson threw to second baseman Rachel Knable to get Jalisa Rock out at second for the final out of the inning. The out came just before Stamey crossed the plate keeping the 49ers lead at one.

Temple finally cracked the scoreboard in the sixth on an RBI double by Pasquale. Sarah Prezioso led off the bottom of the inning with a single to right and scored from first on Pasquale's double that one hopped the fence in right center to tie the game one.

The Owls put runners at the corners with no outs following a fielding error at third base, but Hackett once again escaped the jam by retiring the next three batters that she faced on back-to-back strikeouts and a pop out to third.

The 49ers responded with two runs in the top of the seventh to take a 3-1 advantage. Tenaya Tucker laced a single to right field with the bases loaded scoring Lindsey Holloman, who led off the inning with a walk. Charlotte added its second run of the inning when Marris hit Rock in the leg with the bases loaded bringing home Williams.

"It was finally nice, they've been playing her deep all day and she put one right in front of them," said DeVos. "She's going to come through, like I said, our seniors I'm so proud of them today but our whole team is getting involved offensively. That's the advantage."

Temple attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh as Christina Sykora led off the inning with a single to left field. Hackett then retired the next three batters that she faced to preserve the victory for the 49ers.

With the win, Charlotte advances to face Saint Joseph's at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 13.

--www.atlantic10.com--