Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE SWEEPS LA SALLE IN BASEBALL DOUBLEHEADER
4.6.02 | Baseball
The opener saw a well-pitched game between starters Anthony Koehl and Brandon Bruno. The game was tied until the Owls broke open a 2-2 game in the bottom of the sixth. Joe Lyall got on via an error by first baseman Brian Oakes. John Quigley then doubled Lyall to third. La Salle intentionally walked Jerome Lopez and designated hitter Al Roach made the Explorers pay, driving a single into left center to score two runs. After a popout, catcher Mike Brown got his second hit on the afternoon, a big two-out double to right scoring the third and fourth runs of the inning. The Owls finished off the scoring following an error at third as Keith Ramsey drilled a two-run homer over the right field fence.
Bruno and reliever Matt Powell (3-2), who picked up his third win of the season, pitched solid baseball for the Owls under some very cold conditions. Bruno went 4.1 innings while allowing two runs (only one earned) while Powell finished up, going 2.2 innings allowing two hits and no runs.
The second game looked like a rout early on as the Owls scored four runs in the opening frame, thanks to a grand slam by centerfielder John Quigley. After La Salle scored three to get back to within, 4-3, Quigley homered again to stake starter Mike Caron to a two-run cushion. After the Owls extended the lead to 6-3, the Explorers came right back thanks to a mental mistake by Owl catcher Mike Brown. Jim Fuchs struck out swinging to lead off the sixth and the ball popped out of Brown's glove. Brown reached for Fuchs and thought he tagged him out, throwing the ball to third. Fuchs, however, continued to run to first and was awarded the base. The home plate umpire ruled that Brown has never tagged Fuch. Following a single, Caron retired the next two batters and looked to be out of danger. However, Mike Kelly was hit by a pitch and John Stasny delivered a bases clearing double to left center, knotting the score at six.
The Owls went down silently in the bottom half of the inning as things were just starting to heat up.
Temple reliever Brian Ursone (2-1), who picked up the victory, started the seventh inning innocently enough by retiring the first two batters he faced. But a Fuch walk and McCarthy single brought up Eric Ross. The reserve leftfielder then doubled in two runners as the ball fell inches away from an outstretched Quigley.
Leading 8-6 and looking for their first A-10 Conference victory of the season, La Salle stayed with starter Anthony Boscaglia, who pitched well after surrendering the first-inning grand slam. However, back-to-back leadoff walks gave the Owls life. Following a Sam Sabolchick RBI single with one out, Quigley grounded into a force play and the first conference win for the Explorers looked to be within reach. With the tying run on third and go-ahead run on first, freshman Jerome Lopez legged out an infield single to short to tie the game.
Then, with runners on first and second, the home plate umpire called a balk on Boscaglia. A second balk call followed and Quigley crossed home plate with the winning run.
Both teams will go at it again tomorrow at 12 Noon at Erny Field in the third and final game of the series.
