Temple University Athletics
BASEBALL DROPS 10-6 EXTRA INNING OPENER AGAINST KANSAS STATE
2.28.03 | Baseball
Temple (0-1) was led by John Quigley (Bensalem, Pa/Bensalem) who went two-for-four with two runs batted in while second baseman Fred Hilliard (Broomall, Pa/Upper Darby) homered for the Owls. The Owls had only six hits but four were for extra bases. In addition to Hilliard's homer, the Owls got doubles from Quigley, Rob Cucinotta (Drexel Hill, Monsignor Bonner) and Al Roach (Medford, N.J./Shawnee).
The Owls received a strong starting effort from pitcher Mike Caron (Yardley, Pa/Pennsbury) who went 5.2 innings before giving way to the bullpen.
Kansas State (4-1) was led by catcher Ryan Baldwin who went four-for-six, including two doubles, to lead a 13-hit attack. The two doubles were the only extra base hits for the Wildcats.
The Owls took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Quigley singled to center and advanced to second on an error. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, the center fielder scored on an infield groundout by Jason Connor (Norristown, Pa/Kennedy Kendrick).
Trailing 2-1 in the sixth, the Owls regained the lead. With two outs, Hilliard homered and the Owls got back-to-back hits by Gene Burpoe (Arlington, Va/Wakefield) who singled and a Cucinotta double to plate Burpoe.
Meanwhile, the Owls relief pitching struggled in its first game of the season. Lefty Bryan Stamm (Mifflinburg, Pa/Mifflinburg) and eventual loser Tim Foulkrod (Cheltenham, Pa/Cheltenham) were roughed up for eight earned runs in 3.2 innings.
After K-State had taken a 6-3 lead in the top of the eighth, the Owls scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the score. Hilliard was hit by a pitch and moved to second after Burpoe walked. Cucinotta was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Following a pitching change, Quigley lashed a double down the left field line to score a pair of runs. Al Roach followed with a double to score Cucinotta but Quigley only advanced to third. The Wildcats got out of the inning with no further damage thanks to an infield groundout and a pair of strikeouts.
Kansas State would erupt for four runs in the top of the 10th inning to seal the victory.
Up next for Skip Wilson and his ballclub is a 1:00 p.m. game on Saturday against Northwestern as the Owls continue play in the Screentech Wiregrass Classic.
