Temple University Athletics
BASEBALL BATTLES BUT FALLS TO SAVANNAH STATE, 12-9
3.18.05 | Baseball
AMBLER, PA-- After facing a 7-1 deficit after two innings, Temple battled back to put the tying run on first in the final frame but lost to Savannah State, 12-9, on Friday afternoon at Ambler Field in a game shortened to eight innings due to darkness. The Owls scored two runs in the eighth and had the bases loaded with one out, but consecutive pop-ups ended the game. Senior Gene Burpoe drove in three runs while classmates Jason Connor and Justin Cooper and sophomore Nick Fasano all had two hits.
Savannah State (13-8) roughed up Temple starter Justin Mendek (0-2) in the first two innings, scoring three in the first and four in the second. A three-run triple by Brandon Pope provided most the damage in the second frame. Senior Pete Colon got the Owls (5-7) on the board in the bottom of the second with a two-out single to center that plated freshman Tom Dolan, who had singled.
Trailing 7-1, the Owls drew within one thanks to a five-run outburst in the fourth on just two hits. With one out, both junior Marc Wagner and sophomore Dan Brady drew walks. A Dolan fielder's choice eliminated Brady at second base for the second out. Colon was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Fasano walked to force in a run. Cooper was also plunked, driving in another run. Burpoe provided the inning's first base hit, a line-drive single down the left-field line that scored two runs. A Connor single put the hosts within one at 7-6 after four innings.
The Tigers jumped on freshman Carl Taylor in the sixth, scoring five runs (three earned) to take a decisive 12-6 advantage. But the Owls continued to fightet, answering with a single run in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Burpoe.
Down 12-7 going into the eighth inning, the Cherry and White made things interesting off SSU starter and winning pitcher Javier Fialla (3-3). Colon led off the inning and reached base via an error and moved to third on singles by Fasano and Cooper. Savannah State replaced Fialla (7 IP, 8 ER, 6 SO) with reliever Sean Griffin. Junior Jason Adamek lofted a sacrifice fly to score Colon. Connor walked to load the bases and senior Mike Weckenman forced in a run with his bases on balls to make the score 12-9.
Temple brought the winning run to the plate with one out, but successful foul outs ended the inning. With darkness looming, the umpires decided to call the game after eight.
George Pope led SSU with three hits, while Brandon Pope had two hits and knocked in four runs.
The Owls will host Albany in a doubleheader on Saturday at noon in the second day of the Villanova Baseball Bash. This is a change from the original schedule.
