The Temple College Leopards took on Seminole State College (OK) in NJCAA Division I JUCO College World Series winner's bracket action on Thursday morning at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala.
The Leopards worked their way through a pair of early defensive errors with home runs by Kaiyah Ratu and Angie DeLeon for a 9-3 win over the Trojans.
With the win, the Leopards continue on through the winner's bracket with a date with No. 1 Florida Southwestern State College at Jacksonville State University in the national quarterfinals Friday at 9 am.
Izzy Garcia got the start in the circle for TC. Kaylee Sallee grounded into a fielder's choice that scored an unearned run to put the Trojans up, 1-0.
Temple had the first two batters walk, and a double play left Jasmine Benavidez at first. On a full-count fast ball, Ratu blasted the offering from Maliyah Carney over the left field fence to put Temple up 2-1.
Temple capitalized on a Seminole miscue in the third inning. Lexi Dudeczka singled, Benavidez walked, and Reece Cottrell hit a ground ball that was bobbled to load the bases. With one out, Izzy Garcia's bases-loaded walk increased the Leopards' lead to two. Ryley Litchfield's single scored Benavidez and DeLeon's sacrifice fly scored courtesy runner Maycee Griffin to give Temple a 5-1 lead.
Jordyn Moody's two-run double brought the Trojans back to within two runs, 5-3.
DeLeon's homer over the left field fence with one out in the bottom of the fifth fueled a big Temple rally. Marli Kennedy walked, Brooklynn Walton singled, and Dudeczka hit a hard grounder that was misplayed and scored Kennedy. Cottrell drilled a double that scored Walton and Dudeczka to make the score 9-3.
Garcia and Garcia slammed the door on the Seminole offense to give Temple the win.
Temple clubbed nine hits, with DeLeon leading the way with pair of hits.
Garcia picked up the win, having pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits, struck out two and walked one. Cottrell pitched 2 2/3 innings of solid relief, scattered three hits and struck out one.
Kaitlyn Simpson had two of Seminole's seven hits.
Carney took the loss in relief of Graci Major. Major allowed a run without a hit and walked two. Carney pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowed six runs (four earned) on two hits, and walked five. Juliana Linares pitched an inning, allowed two runs on two hits. Brittani Murray pitched 2/3 inning and walked two.
