Temple University Athletics
OWLS FALL TO GW, 6-3, IN BASEBALL SEASON FINALE
5.21.05 | Baseball
AMBLER, PA -- Atlantic 10 West Division champion George Washington scored two runs in the eighth inning and three more in the ninth to defeat host Temple 6-3 Saturday afternoon at Ambler Field in the Owls' 2005 season finale. Despite the loss, the Cherry & White won six of its final eight games under acting head coach John McArdle to conclude the campaign with a 17-33 record and an 8-16 mark in A-10 play.
Junior ace Tim Foulkrod pitched eight solid innings, including seven stanzas of one-run ball, but was tagged with the loss to finish the year with a 6-7 record. Junior Josh Wilkie also hurled eight innings, scattering 16 hits and allowing three runs, earning the win for George Washington (38-17, 17-7) while freshman Joel Brookens captured the save by striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth.
After three scoreless innings, the Colonials got on the scoreboard first. After a lead off single by senior right fielder Brad Rosenblat and a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Mickey Shupin, senior first baseman Ryan Roberson singled to plate Rosenblatt. A single by freshman Josh Goldberg followed and the Colonials had two men on and thoughts of a big inning. Foulkrod, however, forced the visitors into two ground ball outs to end the threat.
The contest, which was hampered by poor base running by both squads, remained 1-0 until the bottom of the seventh. After a pair of strikeouts to begin the inning, senior Harry Ley singled. With senior Jason Connor then at the plate, the Colonials called a pitch-out with Ley running but catcher Andrew Abokhair's throw sailed into center field and Ley advanced to third. Connor proceeded to double down the left field line to drive in Temple's first run. Senior Mike Weckenman then launched a double into right-center to give the Owls a 2-1 advantage.
Unfortunately, the lead didn't last very long, as GW plated two runs in the top of the eighth to regain the edge. After a lead-off single by Rosenblat, Shupin tripled down the left field line. Temple then offered an intentional walk to Roberson before sophomore second baseman Michael Parker singled-in Shupin. Foulkrod toughed-out the inning by engineering three consecutive outs.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, catcher Matt Lafferty doubled to spark the home crowd in a game that looked to have the makings of an extra inning contest. After freshman Tom Dolan grounded-out to second, freshman Frank Nunan was inserted to pinch-hit for senior Gene Burpoe. Nunan provided an RBI double to tie the game. Second baseman Justin Cooper then singled into right. On the play, Nunan made a dash for home but was called out at the plate in a close call that was accentuated by Nunan's head-first slide.
Then, in the top of the ninth, the wheels fell off for Temple. GW centerfielder Matt Owens singled to start-off the inning, chasing Foulkrod for junior reliever Tim Andrel. Andrel struck out Abokhair before Rosenblat singled into left. Shupin then reached base on a fielder's choice before Roberson stepped to the plate with runners on first and third.
The home plate umpire then called a balk on Andrel, plating Owens and providing the visitors a 4-3 lead. Roberson was then intentionally walked and a wild pitch moved him to second. With two runners in scoring position, Parker slapped a bouncing dribbler to short that scored both runners and provided the Colonials the 6-3 win.
Parker had four singles and three RBI to pace the Colonials, who totaled 14 hits while making two errors. Six different Owls had multiple hits as the home squad posted a season-high16 hits. The Owls also compiled six doubles on the afternoon while George Washington generated just one hit for extra bases.
Cooper and Lafferty led TU with three hits each, while Ley, Connor, Weckenman and senior Pete Colon added two safeties apiece.
