Temple University Athletics
BASEBALL FALLS AT CHARLOTTE, 11-2
4.1.06 | Baseball
CHARLOTTE, NC -- The Owls out-hit Charlotte for the second straight day but stranded 14 baserunners in an 11-2 loss on Saturday afternoon at Tom and Lib Phillips Field. A pair of freshmen, Lenny DelGrippo and Pat Riley, each had three safeties to lead a 15-hit attack for TU. Sophomore Arshwin Asjes saw his scoreless inning streak snapped at 26 with four 49er runs in the first.
The 15 Temple hits were tops for the season, overcoming last night's 14-hit performance. But once again, the Owls (6-18, 1-4 A-10) couldn't get the big hit when they needed it. The Cherry and White left two runners on base in four straight middle innings and left the bases loaded in the ninth. TU also made several outs on the bases paths, with three runners being picked off and another thrown out at the plate.
The visitors scored single runs in the second and fourth innings, and both were ignited by leadoff doubles from junior Dan Brady. In the second, he scored on a Riley double-play ball and two innings later a DelGrippo RBI-single drove him home. Brady now leads the team with seven doubles.
Asjes (3-2) never seemed to get on track and was saddled with the loss. He allowed nine runs (five earned) in four inning before giving way to senior Justin Mendek. The southpaw gave up two earned runs in four innings.
Charlotte (20-8, 5-0) jumped on board in the first with four runs, three of which were unearned. Spencer Steedley drove in two runs with a double to put the hosts ahead 4-0. After Temple answered back with a run in the top of the second, Steedley hit a three-run homerun to right to give the 49ers a 7-1 cushion. The junior finished the day with five RBI.
Two more freshmen had a pair of hits for Temple, including Jamie Abercrombie and Casey Sellen.
The Owls will try to avoid the series sweep on Sunday with sophomore Tom Dolan (1-1, 3.91 ERA) getting the ball. Charlotte counters with Derek McDaid (5-1, 1.66). Live statistics and streaming audio will be available via owlsports.com.
