NINTH INNING EXPLOSION GIVES BASEBALL 10-4 WIN AT FIU

MIAMI, FL -- Temple (1-1) broke up a close game with six runs in the ninth inning to record its first win of the season, a 10-4 victory at Florida International (10-5) on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Miami. Junior Tim Foulkrod picked up the win on the hill, throwing 7 1/3 innings and allowing a single earned run while striking out six.

The Owls offensive explosion began when senior Jason Connor drove in classmate Justin Cooper with a RBI single to push the lead to 5-3 in the ninth. After pinch hitter Jason Adamek bunted the runners to second and third, FIU intentionally walked senior Mike Weckenman to load the bases. Sophomore Dan Brady immediately cleared them with a three-run double to rightfield to make the score 8-3.

Senior Matt Lafferty drove in his third run with a single to center and advanced to third on an errant throw by CF Chris Dunn. The hit parade continued as freshman Devon Swope collected his first collegiate hit with a RBI double to right center to close the scoring at 10-3.

FIU added an unearned run off freshman Tom Dolan, who picked up his first collegiate save after entering the game in the eighth with Temple holding a 4-3 lead. The southpaw struck out three batters in 1 2/3 innings pitched.

Brady remained hot at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and five RBI while Lafferty drove in three runs with his two hits. Cooper also added two singles for the Owls.

Just as it did Friday night, Florida International jumped on top with a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Michael Lopez started things off by doubling down the right field line and advanced to third on a Yahmed Yema bloop single just over the reach of Connor. Lopez then scored on a double steal, with Temple electing to throw out Yemma at second.

Temple had a tough time solving FIU ace David Asher (4-0, 1.06 ERA coming into the game) for the first three innings, managing only a Cooper lead-off single. The Owls answered with two away in the fourth, as a Brady double to center plated senior Pete Colon, to tie the score at 1-1.

The Cherry and White took a two-run lead in the sixth on a RBI double by Lafferty. The senior ripped a line drive down the left field line to score Weckenman (walk) and Brady (hit by pitch).

FIU answered with two runs in the seventh, but the lead was short-lived as Temple took the lead in the top of the eighth. Weckenman led off the inning with a line drive to centerfield that just got by a diving Chris Dunn and reached the fence for a triple. Brady drove in Weckenman with a RBI single to left to give the visitors a 4-3 lead.

Dolan replaced Foulkrod with the tying run on first and one out in the eighth. Nick Cadena attempted to steal second, but Lafferty gunned him down for the second out and Dolan struck out Michael Jordan to finish the inning. The floodgates then opened for TU in the next half inning.

TU returns to the diamond on Sunday when it takes on Boston College at 2 p.m. at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. Sophomore Chris McCafferty, a transfer from Maryland, makes his debut on the hill for the Cherry and White.

Temple University Athletics

NINTH INNING EXPLOSION GIVES BASEBALL 10-4 WIN AT FIU

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