Temple University Athletics
AL ROACH NINTH-INNING HEROICS PROPEL TEMPLE TO 5-4 BASEBALL WIN OVER LA SALLE
3.28.04 | Baseball
After Temple (10-7, 3-0) took a 3-2 lead in the top of the third both teams went scoreless until fireworks went off beginning in the bottom of the eighth.
Temple starter and eventual winner Tim Foulkrod (2-2) breezed through the middle innings allowing just two La Salle (12-7-1, 0-3) hits from the third inning through the seventh inning.
Then the fireworks began.
Explorer reliever and loser Gerard Breslin (1-1) retired the first two Owl batters in the eighth. Third baseman Mike Weckenman then singled and went to third on a single to right by catcher Marc Wagner. The Owls then tried a double steal and although Weckenman looked like he got to home plate before the tag, he was called out on a very close play to end the inning.
In the La Salle eighth, an infield error opened up the way for the Explorers to take a 4-3 lead. Following the error, Foulkrod got the next two batters out before walking Scott Gehringer. Catcher Rich Prall then singled to left center as one run scored and Gehringer headed for home. A bang-bang play went the Explorers way as they took a one run lead. Prall was thrown out at second on the play as the Explorers went to the ninth looking to salvage one game of the three game weekend set.
However, Freddy Hilliard, hitting under the Mendoza line, singled to right center on an 0-2 count. Following a sacrifice bunt, Jason Adamek walked. After Breslin struck out John Quigley, Al Roach began his heroics. With Explorer fans on their feet, Roach hit a rocket down the third base line. Hilliard scored and Wagner slid in just ahead of the tag at home in a bang-bang play that was argued by the Explorer coaching staff.
The Owls brought in Josiah Platchek to close out the game but the Explorers didn't go easily. Platchek got the first two batters and it looked like the Explorers were going to go quietly. But that wasn't the case. Shortstop John Synder singled through the left side and Ryan Parfitt followed with a smash down the left field line. Roach hustled over into the corner and hit third baseman Mike Weckenman with a perfect relay throw and Weckenman turned and threw a perfect strike to catcher Marc Wagner who put the tag on a sliding Snyder to end the game.
The play ended a highly entertaining three-game series between the two schools as both teams looked to get off on the right foot in conference play.
Temple continues play on Monday afternoon up at Temple's Ambler Field when they take on the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. The Owls will then head down to Annapolis, Maryland for a game at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday against the Naval Academy returning home on Wednesday for a game against Towson at 3:00 p.m.
