COPPERAS COVE, TX – The Temple Tem-Cats traveled for their final road game of the regular season on Tuesday evening, but a high-powered opening frame from the Copperas Cove Lady Dawgs proved too much to overcome. Despite an early lead, Temple fell 12-2 in a District 12-6A matchup defined by a marathon first inning.

A Fast Start Fades

Temple came out swinging in the top of the first, looking to set a physical tone. Sha’kyhria Freeman, who led the team with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, helped spark the offense early. London Armour laced an RBI single down the left-field line, followed quickly by a productive groundout from Saniya Maxwell.

The back-to-back efforts from Armour and Maxwell gave the Tem-Cats a promising 2-0 lead before the Lady Dawgs even picked up a bat.

The First Inning Flurry

The momentum shifted violently in the bottom of the frame. Copperas Cove "flipped the game on its head," erupting for eight runs on four hits. The decisive blow came via a two-RBI single from KK Manzano. Temple starter Brenna Thomas struggled to find the zone, exiting after two-thirds of an inning having allowed eight runs (seven earned) on four hits and two walks.

Armour moved from the field to the circle in relief, steadying the ship for the next four innings. The right-hander surrendered four runs on four hits while striking out one, though nine total walks by the Temple pitching staff consistently kept the Lady Dawgs in scoring position.

Cove Maintains Control

The Lady Dawgs’ offense didn't let up, highlighted by Kate Gomez, who launched a solo home run to center field in the third inning. Gomez, Manzano, and winning pitcher Janell Gray each finished with two RBIs. Gray was equally effective in the circle, tossing five innings and racking up six strikeouts while holding the Tem-Cats to just four hits.

Defensively, the Tem-Cats showed flashes of brilliance, including a cleanly turned double play, but they couldn't crack a Copperas Cove defense that played error-free softball behind Gray.

Looking Ahead

While the road schedule has concluded, the Tem-Cats have one final opportunity to finish the season on a high note.

Temple returns home this Friday, April 17, for their regular-season finale against Harker Heights. It will be a night to celebrate the season and defend the home turf one last time. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Stat Line Highlights:

Temple: Sha’kyhria Freeman (2-3); London Armour (1 RBI, 4 IP relief); Saniya Maxwell (1 RBI).
Copperas Cove: Janell Gray (3-4, 2 RBI, 5 IP, 6 K); Kate Gomez (HR, 2 RBI).