Temple University Athletics
MIKE CARON KEEPS OWLS SLIM PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE WITH 6-1 VICTORY OVER RHODE ISLAND
5.9.03 | Baseball
Caron (7-3) went the distance while retiring 14 out of the last 16 batters he faced. Mike Weckenman (Newtown, Pa/Council Rock) had two hits and an RBI and John Quigley (Bensalem, Pa/Bensalem) had a key two-run single in the Owls four-run uprising in the third.
Rhode Island wasted little time getting to Caron in the first. Following a one-out hit batsman, first baseman Dan Batz drilled a double to left center as the Rams took a 1-0 lead.
The score stayed that way until the Owls reached Ram starter and loser Reid Willett (5-5) for four runs in the third. Weckenman led off with a single and following a sacrifice bunt, Pete Colon (Birdsboro, Pa/Daniel Boone) walked. Gene Burpoe (Arlington, Va/Wakefield) followed with a single to left to load the bases. Jason Connor (Norristown, Pa,Kennedy Kendrick) tied the game with a sacrifice fly and Rob Cucinotta (Drexel Hill, Pa/Monsignor Bonnor) and Quigley followed with a double and single respectively to give the Owls a 4-1 lead.
After Caron retired the Rams in order in the fourth, the Owls knocked Willett out of the game in the fourth. A leadoff walk and double by Weckenman put runners on second and third with no outs. Fred Hilliard (Upper Darby, Pa/Upper Darby) followed with a sacrifice fly in which Ram centerfielder D.J. Burns made a great diving catch. Colon then followed with an RBI single to knock Willett out, bringing on reliever Matt Preston who got out of the inning with no further damage.
Meanwhile, Caron was breezing along and retired nine in a row before walking the leadoff batter in the sixth. He got out of the inning by inducing an around-the-horn double play.
Caron then retired the Rams in the seventh, allowing an infield single before putting the Rams away.
The two teams finish up the three-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m.
