Temple University Athletics
PITT DEFEATS TEMPLE, 13-6, IN BASEBALL ACTION
3.12.05 | Baseball
WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- Pittsburgh scored nine runs off four Temple relievers to break open a close game and defeat the Owls, 13-6, in West Palm Beach, Fla. on Saturday night. Freshman Eric Fritz made his first collegiate start and had a no-hitter through four plus innings but suffered the loss despite allowing just two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. Senior Mike Weckenman went 2-for-2 to pace TU.
Temple (3-5) committed seven errors in the contest in the three and a half hour marathon contest. Pitt (6-4) added three more miscues, as well.
Neither team had a hit until freshman Devon Swope beat out an infield hit in the fourth. Pittsburgh recorded its first hit in the fifth inning and scored two runs in the frame to take a 2-0 lead.
The Owls added a single run in the fifth. With two outs, senior Matt Lafferty walked and advanced to third as classmate Justin Cooper reached on an error. Head coach Skip Wilson put on a double-steal and it worked to perfection as Lafferty scored to cut the deficit to 2-1.
After the Panthers recorded three runs in the sixth, TU answered with two in its half of the inning. Sophomore Dan Brady and junior Mike Silverman had RBI singles for the Owls. With six full innings completed, Pittsburgh led 5-3.
UP added three in the seventh and five more in the eighth to break open a close game. Temple plated two runs in the ninth on a freshman Frank Nunan two-run single.
Paul Nardozzi (2-1) struck out nine batters to earn the victory for Pitt. Peter Parise had two hits and drove in four for the Panthers.
The Cherry and White concludes a three-game set with Pittsburgh and its nine-game Florida trip on Sunday at 1 p.m. The contest will be played at the Palm Beach Challenge in West Palm Beach, Fla.
