Story Courtesy College of Charleston sports information

Temple 8, College of Charleston 7

TAMPA, FL - The College of Charleston wrapped up its trip to the USF Wilson Invitational with an 8-7 loss to the Temple Owls Monday.

The Cougars fall to 1-4 on the season despite out-hitting their opponents in all four games. Temple earns their first win of the season improving their record to 1-2. Shannon Howard falls to 1-3 on the year as she gave up four runs in her start from the circle.

The Cougars scored seven runs on 10 hits while committing two errors on the day. Temple had eight runs on six hits committing four errors. Renee Francis hit a two-run homerun and Howard had four hits on four at bats to help lead the Cougars on offense.

The Cougars will host South Carolina State on Wednesday, Feb. 22nd at 5 p.m. at Patriots Point Field in Mt Pleasant, S.C.

Charleston scored two runs in the top of the second on a bases loaded single by Leshe Russell. The Cougars added another run on a bases loaded walk to take a 2-0 lead.

Temple would answer in the bottom half of the second as they scored five runs on three hits. Charleston would cut the lead to two in the top half of the third as Bridget Loudermilk scored on a wild pitch.

Temple scored another run in the bottom half of the third to make the score 6-3 heading to the fourth. It was in the fourth that Francis jacked her first homerun of the season scoring two more runs for CofC making the score 6-5.

The Owls added two insurance runs in the fifth to make the score 8-5. Charleston surged late in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to one but could not overcome their early deficit.