WILD INNING HELPS TEMPLE SPLIT WITH GW

AMBLER, PA -- Temple scored four unearned runs thanks to four George Washington errors in the bottom of the sixth inning to salvage a doubleheader split with an 8-5 win in the nightcap on Thursday at Ambler Field. Senior Mike Weckenman had four hits on the day and earned the win in game two. The Colonials won game one, 8-4, and clinched the A-10 West regular season title.

Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning of the nightcap and facing undefeated G.W. pitcher Brian Frazier, the Owls (17-32, 8-15 A-10) received consecutive singles by senior Matt Lafferty and freshman Frank Nunan with one out. Freshman Tom Dolan then reached on an error by the third baseman, which scored Lafferty to tie the score at 5-5.

Senior Justin Cooper then lofted a long fly ball that Colonial centerfielder Matt Owens dropped to reload the bases. A fielder's choice from senior Harry Ley scored Nunan to put the Owls ahead 6-5.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Temple managed to score two more runs on a single wild pitch. Cooper and Ley moved up to second and third on the errant pitch, but catcher Joe Michalski's routine throw to Frazier covering home got by the pitcher and allowed Cooper to trot home. Things got even crazier when first baseman Ryan Roberson, backing up on the play, threw wildly past Frazier at the plate to allow Ley to score and give TU an 8-5 lead.

Junior Tim Andrel pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his second save of the season. He came in relief of Weckenman, who improved to 3-2 with the victory.

The Owls scored an unearned run in the first and added two more in the second on a Cooper two-run single for a 3-1 lead. The hosts tacked on another run in the fourth when Weckenman, who had doubled, scored on a passed ball. Only two of Temple's eight runs were earned in the nightcap.

The Colonials (38-17, 16-7) scored four of their five runs off homeruns. Brad Rosenblat hit his conference leading 17^th and Ryan Roberson added his 15^th for G.W. Frazier (7-1) suffered his first defeat of the season, despite not allowing an earned run in his only inning in relief of Dan Sullivan (5 IP, 2 ER).

In the opener, Temple saw a 4-4 tie turn into an 8-4 loss in George Washington's final at-bat. The Colonials scored four runs in the seventh off TU starter Chris McCafferty, who drops to 3-8 on the season.

Weckenman went 3-for-3 with three RBI, while Cooper and senior Jason Connor each had two hits.

Derrick Lutz went 6.2 innings and struck out six in improving to 8-0. Joel Brookens got the final out for the save.

The two teams will complete the regular season on Friday at noon at Ambler Field.

Temple University Athletics

WILD INNING HELPS TEMPLE SPLIT WITH GW

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