Temple University Athletics
EIGHTH-INNING HOMER GIVES ST. FRANCIS (NY) WIN OVER OWLS
3.19.06 | Baseball
AMBLER, PA -- A solo homerun by Dave Mercado in the eighth inning gave visiting St. Francis (N.Y.) a 5-4 win over Temple on Sunday at Ambler Field. The contest was the final in the Villanova Baseball Bash and all three games at Ambler Field were decided by one run. Freshman Lenny DelGrippo had a pair of doubles and two RBI for the Owls.
Freshman Marc Tankel earned the start for TU and gave the hosts seven solid innings. The innings were definitely needed as Temple was playing its fifth game in six days with two of its pitchers on the shelf with injuries. Tankel scattered seven hits and allowed four earned runs in his first collegiate start.
The Terriers (2-5) scored two runs in the fourth, but the Cherry and White answered back with four in the bottom half of the frame. Sophomore Frank Nunan reached on a fielder's choice and junior Dan Brady walked to give Temple first and second with one out.
DelGrippo then ripped a two-run double to right-center to tie the score at 2-2. After a flyout, sophomore Tom Dolan then hit a routine grounder to second base. It was misplayed and then thrown away, which allowed DelGrippo to score all the way from second. Dolan, who moved to second on the throwing error, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch to put the Owls (5-10) ahead 4-2.
SFC scored single runs in the fifth and seventh innings to chase Tankel. Freshman Joe McGilligan relieved him in the eighth and was welcomed by Mercado's homerun. He suffered the loss and drops to 0-2 on the season.
Brady had a pair of hits for Temple, while freshman Jamie Abercrombie extended his hitting streak to eight games.
Joe Romano (1-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Dan DioGuardini (5.2 IP, 2 ER). Mercado and Richard Castaldo each had a pair of hits for SFC.
Temple visits La Salle on Tuesday in the first round of the Liberty Bell Classic. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.
