Temple University Athletics
WECKENMAN'S WALK-OFF GIVES TEMPLE WIN OVER LA SALLE IN 12 INNINGS
5.11.05 | Baseball
AMBLER, PA -- Senior Mike Weckenman blasted a two-run walk-off homerun to left-center with two outs in the 12th inning to defeat La Salle, 3-1, on Wednesday at Ambler Field. Fellow senior Jason Connor (3-for-6) singled with two away to setup Weckenman's heroics. Junior Tim Foulkrod picked up the win by tossing three innings of shutout relief.
Overshadowed by the dramatic finish was a fine performance by freshman pitcher Tom Dolan. In the longest outing of his young career, the southpaw went nine innings, scattering four hits and allowing only one run, while striking out four. Foulkrod took over in the tenth and gave up two hits to improve to 5-6 on the season.
Temple (12-31) scored an unearned run in the first inning and held the 1-0 lead until the fifth. Senior Harry Ley lofted a high-fly to rightfield that La Salle's Matt Dunaway could not handle and ended up on third. Connor had an RBI-groundout to plate Ley for the game's first run.
The Explorers (17-27) scored in the fifth on a Brent Harm RBI-groundout that plated John Vincent, who had doubled.
Dolan, who did not allow a runner past second base for the rest of the way, retired 12 of the next 14 batters before giving way to Foulkrod. Temple's ace ran into a little bit of trouble in the top of the 12th as La Salle had first and third with one out with Vincent at the plate. The right-handed induced a perfect 6-4-3 double play to get out of the jam.
The Owls left runners in scoring position in the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth innings, but looked to end the game in the tenth. Connor doubled and Weckenman was intentionally walked to give the hosts first and second with one out against All-American candidate, La Salle closer Gerard Breslin. The hard throwing righty recorded a strikeout and a fly-out to finish the inning.
Jerrod Ringer (2-7) suffered the defeat for the Explorers.
Temple hosts St. Bonaventure in an Atlantic 10 set on Friday (DH) and Saturday (both at noon). The series was moved up day to accommodate SBU's graduation on Sunday. The Owls will honor their ten seniors prior to Saturday's game.
