Temple University Athletics
XAVIER RALLIES FROM THREE RUN DEFICIT TO WIN BASEBALL FINALE 6-3
5.21.04 | Baseball
AMBLER, PA - Held scoreless through the first five innings, Xavier erupted for six runs over the last four innings to win the season finale over the Temple Owls 6-3 at Ambler Field on a soggy Friday afternoon.
Xavier centerfielder Jay Johnson and shortstop Matt Waskerwitz had two hits and the Musketeers got scoreless bullpen relief from winner Tim Beaver and Mike Creevy to end the season on a positive note.
Temple got three hits from shortstop Jason Connor in defeat.
The Owls (23-26, 10-14) got on the board first scoring a run in the home third. Justin Cooper singled and went to third on a single by Freddy Hilliard. Cooper scored when Hilliard was caught in a rundown between first and second.
In a crazy home fourth, the Owls scored another run as Xavier recorded all three outs on the base paths. John Quigley and Mike Weckenman led off the inning with walks off starter Sam Freund. Andrew Clemens singled down the left field line to score Quigley as Weckenman went to third while Clemens was gunned down at second. Catcher Mike Brown then grounded to third and Weckenman was nailed at the plate. The inning ended with Brown caught stealing at second.
Temple added another run in the fifth on a single off the bat of Pete Colon before Xavier reached starter Justin Mendek for three runs to tie the game in the sixth.
Three consecutive singles by Jason Morelli, Waskerwitz and Johnson scored one run. Following a sacrifice bunt, Brett Smith was intentionally walked. A passed ball scored the second run and Johnson used his speed to score from third on a sacrifice fly to the second baseman in very short right field.
After the Owls missed a golden opportunity to score in the sixth, the Musketeers went ahead by scoring a run off reliever and eventual loser Time Andrel (2-5) in the seventh.
Drew Roberts led off with a double to left center. Eric Armstrong then gave himself up by grounding out to second, moving Roberts to third. Roberts then scored the go-ahead and eventual winning run on a squeeze bunt by Morelli.
The visitors added two insurance runs in the eighth with two down and nobody on. Smith doubled and following an intentional walk, Eric Moss and Matt Lucas had back-to-back singles to round out the scoring.
Reliever and winning pitcher Time Beaver (2-1) retired the Owls in order in the eighth and Mike Creevy picked up his eighth save of the season after stranding pinch hitter Gene Burpoe and Connor on base after Al Roach had flied out to the warning track in deep left center field.
On a positive note, both teams could have very easily cashed in the season on the previous Monday after finding out that neither team was headed to Norwich to participate in the A-10 playoffs. But to both teams credit and especially Xavier who traveled on a bus 10 hours each way, the two teams gave the fans their monies worth in a well-played three game series.
Xavier centerfielder Jay Johnson and shortstop Matt Waskerwitz had two hits and the Musketeers got scoreless bullpen relief from winner Tim Beaver and Mike Creevy to end the season on a positive note.
Temple got three hits from shortstop Jason Connor in defeat.
The Owls (23-26, 10-14) got on the board first scoring a run in the home third. Justin Cooper singled and went to third on a single by Freddy Hilliard. Cooper scored when Hilliard was caught in a rundown between first and second.
In a crazy home fourth, the Owls scored another run as Xavier recorded all three outs on the base paths. John Quigley and Mike Weckenman led off the inning with walks off starter Sam Freund. Andrew Clemens singled down the left field line to score Quigley as Weckenman went to third while Clemens was gunned down at second. Catcher Mike Brown then grounded to third and Weckenman was nailed at the plate. The inning ended with Brown caught stealing at second.
Temple added another run in the fifth on a single off the bat of Pete Colon before Xavier reached starter Justin Mendek for three runs to tie the game in the sixth.
Three consecutive singles by Jason Morelli, Waskerwitz and Johnson scored one run. Following a sacrifice bunt, Brett Smith was intentionally walked. A passed ball scored the second run and Johnson used his speed to score from third on a sacrifice fly to the second baseman in very short right field.
After the Owls missed a golden opportunity to score in the sixth, the Musketeers went ahead by scoring a run off reliever and eventual loser Time Andrel (2-5) in the seventh.
Drew Roberts led off with a double to left center. Eric Armstrong then gave himself up by grounding out to second, moving Roberts to third. Roberts then scored the go-ahead and eventual winning run on a squeeze bunt by Morelli.
The visitors added two insurance runs in the eighth with two down and nobody on. Smith doubled and following an intentional walk, Eric Moss and Matt Lucas had back-to-back singles to round out the scoring.
Reliever and winning pitcher Time Beaver (2-1) retired the Owls in order in the eighth and Mike Creevy picked up his eighth save of the season after stranding pinch hitter Gene Burpoe and Connor on base after Al Roach had flied out to the warning track in deep left center field.
On a positive note, both teams could have very easily cashed in the season on the previous Monday after finding out that neither team was headed to Norwich to participate in the A-10 playoffs. But to both teams credit and especially Xavier who traveled on a bus 10 hours each way, the two teams gave the fans their monies worth in a well-played three game series.
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