Temple University Athletics
OWLS BATTLE BUT FALL TO NO. 1 RICHMOND, 5-3
5.17.02 | Baseball
The sophomore righthander, in a pitching duel with Owls' starter, Matt Powell (6-7), struck out ten while walking just two. Powell, on the other hand, pitched well in defeat. The junior righthander allowed just eight hits in throwing his fifth complete game of the season.
The Owls took advantage of some sloppy fielding by Richmond to take an early 1-0 lead in the first. Senior Joe Lyall (Levittown, Pa/Harry Truman) reached on an error to get things going. Following a strikeout and flyout, Lyall stole second and continued to third on a throwing error by catcher Adam Tidball. Al Roach (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) then plated Lyall with a two-out single to center field.
The Spiders tied the game in the second, scoring an unearned run against tough-luck loser Matt Powell (Holland, Pa/Council Rock). Adam Tidball singled with one out and advanced to second on a passed ball. Designated hitter, Chris Dolan, scored Tidball on a two-out single to right.
Richmond took their first lead of the game in the home third. Following a walk to John Cronin, third baseman David Reaver, who had three hits on the afternoon, hit a two-run home run over the leftfield wall to give the Spiders a 3-1 lead.
The Owls came right back to tie the score in the fourth. Catcher Jeff Roma (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott) doubled to center and moved to third on a single by Sam Sabolchick (Hazelton, Pa/Hazelton Area). Fred Hilliard (Upper Darby/Upper Darby) then grounded into a fielder's choice with Roma being tagged out at the plate trying to score. With runners on second and third and two out, freshman Mike Weckenman (Newtown, Pa/Council Rock) produced a big two-out single through the left side to tie the score at 3-3.
Meanwhile, starter Matt Powell retired the Spiders in order in the fourth and also in the fifth with the help of a great over-the-shoulder catch in centerfield by John Quigley (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem). In the sixth, Richmond had a runner on third with two out, but he was stranded there as Sabolchick made a good defensive play on a bad throw, tagging the runner as he came up the line for the third out.
The Spiders regained the lead in the seventh. Brian Ruscello singled and Bobby LeNoir came in to pinch run. Following a sacrifice that moved LeNoir to second, pinch hitter James Fasano hit a seeing-eye single up the middle to score LeNoir with the go-ahead run.
Richmond would add an insurance run in the eighth inning on three consecutive singles as Powell did a good job of getting out of a first and third no-out situation.
The Owls put a scare into the No. 1 seed in the ninth, but couldn't muster a run in the 5-3 defeat. Sabolchick led off with a single and following a one out walk, Andy Givens came on in relief of Stauffer. Givens did his job, striking out the next two hitters to pick up his fifth save of the year.
The Owls now take on Xavier in a first-round rematch tonight at 7:30 p.m. in an elimination game. The winner will advance and continue play tomorrow (Saturday) at 4:00 p.m. against the loser of the George Washington vs. St. Bonaventure game, to be played at 4:00 p.m. today (Friday).
