Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE FALLS TO LEHIGH, 7-4, IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
3.28.06 | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, PA -- Lehigh jumped out to a 7-1 lead after five innings and held on to earn a 7-4 win over Temple in non-conference action on Tuesday. Four Owls had multiple hits, including freshman Steve Mury. Freshman Joe McGilligan threw three innings of shutout relief for the Cherry and White, which lost for the seventh time in its last eight games.
Temple could not solve Lehigh starter Kyle Collina, who threw four innings of shutout ball while allowing just two hits. The Mountain Hawks, who pounded the Owls for 23 runs just two weeks ago, scraped a run across in the second off TU starter Justin Mendek.
The hosts did most of their damage in the third, scoring three runs to take a 4-1 lead. The Mountain Hawks took advantage of a pair of walks and three wild pitches in the frame.
The Cherry and White got on the board in the fifth as a RBI double by sophomore Devon Swope scored Mury, who singled to open the inning. Lehigh answered back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs off reliever DaShone Kirkendoll. The 6'5" sophomore was making his first appearance since joining the team following basketball season.
The inning appeared to be over when Kirkendoll induced a grounder to short with two outs. But Lelanad Weisband beat the throw to score a run keep the inning alive. A two-run double by Nick Bet put Lehigh ahead 7-1 after five full innings.
Temple didn't give up and scored three runs in the seventh. Freshman Mike Sweet drew a one-out walk and Mury doubled to put runners on second and third. A single from Swope plated Sweet and base-hit by freshman Jamie Abercrombie scored Mury. Junior Dan Brady followed with a RBI-single of his own to put Temple within three.
It would be as close as the Owls would get. Lehigh's Geoff Campbell did not allow a run over the final 2.2 innings to drop Temple to 6-15 on the season. Lehigh improved to 9-15.
Swope, who drove in two runs, joined Abercrombie, Nunan and Mury with multiple hits. Mendek (0-4) took the loss, despite allowing just one earned run in two innings.
Temple hosts Monmouth on Wednesday at 3 p.m. Live statistics will be available via GameTracker.
