Temple University Athletics
OWLS WIN FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON, 9-8 AGAINST PENNSYLVANIA
3.13.02 | Baseball
The Owls (1-4) had the game seemingly in hand, leading 8-3, but a three-run eighth and two-run ninth forced extra innings.
The Owls opened the scoring with two runs in the first. Following a one-out walk to Jim Tully, Joe Lyall, who had three hits, singled to left. Al Roach followed with an RBI double scoring Tully and Lyall scored one out later on a groundout by John Quigley. The Owls extended their lead in the third to 3-0 when Fred Hilliard homered.
Penn (2-3) scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to knot the game at three but the Owls plated three in the top of the sixth on a Pete Colon three-run homer to take a 6-3 lead.
The Owls extended that lead with two more runs in the seventh. Tully and Lyall singled and following a double-steal, Roach singled to center knocking in both runners.
The Owls got a solid pitching effort from freshman, Justin Mendek, who went five innings allowing three runs on five hits while striking out three. Brian Ursone relieved Mendek and pitched a scoreless two innings before being touched up for three runs in the eighth.
With junior Matt Powell on in relief in the ninth, Penn knotted the score with the help of two unearned runs. A two-out single by catcher Matt Horn tied the score.
The Owls regained the lead in the 10th. After Keith Ramsey walked and was wild pitched to second, catcher Jeff Roma sacrificed Ramsey to third and he eventually scored on another wild pitch.
The Quakers threatened in the bottom of the inning loading the bases with one out. However, Powell (1-0) got Bryan Graves to hit into a game-ending double play to get the victory.
The Owls continue play down in Florida on Wednesday with a 1:00 p.m. game against the Rhode Island Rams.
Temple 2 0 1 0 0 3 2 0 0 1 9 11 3
Penn 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 2 0 8 12 0
WP: Matt Powell 1-0
LP: Brian Winings 0-1
