Temple University Athletics
LEHIGH HOLDS OFF TEMPLE, 3-2, IN LIBERTY BELL CLASSIC QUARTERFINALS
3.15.05 | Baseball
AMBLER, PA-- Lehigh scored three runs in the fifth inning and held off a late Temple rally to defeat the Owls, 3-2, in a Liberty Bell Classic quarterfinal on Tuesday at Ambler Field. TU had runners on first and second with one out in the ninth but could not plate the tying run. Senior Mike Weckenman had two hits, including a double, and junior Tim Foulkrod tossed four plus innings of shutout relief.
Temple (4-6) got on the board in the first inning. Senior Justin Cooper singled to left and advanced to second on a freshman Tom Dolan sacrifice bunt. Cooper then scored on a senior Jason Connor double to right-center to put the hosts ahead 1-0.
Sophomore starter Chris McCafferty threw four solid innings and striking out six before running into trouble in the fifth inning. Joe Ercolano singled with one out and advanced to second on a walk to David Moscow. John Zaszewski singled to right to score Ercolano to chase McCafferty. Foulkrod took the mound and after a walk to Matt McBride, allowed a two-run single to give the Mountain Hawks (5-4) a 3-1 lead.
The Owls cut the deficit to 3-2 in the seventh. Weckenman doubled to left-center with one out and scored on a sophomore Dan Brady fielder's choice.
In the ninth, Weckenman singled with one away and was replaced by freshman Frank Nunan at first base. Nunan stole second and junior Marc Wagner walked to keep the inning alive. Brady grounded out to third but advanced the runners to second and third with two outs. Temple was unable to plate tying run.
Kyle Collina (1-2) threw three innings and struck out four to earn the win in relief of starter Jack Muscalus (4 IP, 1 ER). Joel Hockman recorded the save after two shutout innings. McCafferty (1-2) took the loss for TU.
Zaszewski and Mike Sandonato each had two hits for Lehigh.
Temple resumes play on Wednesday at Penn. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
