Temple University Athletics
TWO-OUT RALLIES HURT OWLS IN 12-2 LOSS TO RHODE ISLAND
4.14.06 | Baseball
AMBLER, PA -- After falling behind early, Rhode Island scored 12 unanswered runs and coasted to a 12-2 victory over Temple on Friday afternoon at Ambler Field. The Rams scored 11 of their runs with two outs, including five in the decisive third inning. Freshman Jamie Abercrombie had two singles for Temple.
Temple got on the board early, plating two runs in the first. Abercrombie ripped a single to right to lead off the game and moved to second on a sophomore Frank Nunan sacrifice bunt. Junior Dan Brady then hit his team-leading 12th double of the season to drive in Abercrombie and then scored on a freshman Lenny DelGrippo single.
The lead was short lived, however, as URI (19-6, 7-2 A-10) scored five in the third with two outs off senior Tim Foulkrod. The Rams added three more in the fifth on the strength of four extra-base hits, most notably a two-run homer by Ryan Cunningham (2-for-5, three RBI.
Senior Justin Mendek replaced Foulkrod in the sixth and extended his scoreless inning streak to nine before Rhody scored two in the eighth, both with two outs. A Josh Nestor homer in the ninth with one out was the only Ram run scored with less than two away.
Six Rams had a pair of hits, including Wayne Russo, who doubled and tripled. James Norcott (3-2) was far from overpowering, but was effective in the complete-game victory. He did not allow a runner past second base after Temple's two-run first inning.
Foulkrod (1-5) suffered the loss, allowing nine earned runs in five plus innings. It was his fourth straight defeat.
The Owls (7-24, 1-9), who have now dropped eighth straight conference games, will look to get back on track on Saturday against the Rams. Sophomore Arshwin Asjes (3-3, 2.25 ERA) will take on Steve Holmes (5-1, 1.13) in a battle of two of the league's top hurlers. Game time is 1 p.m. Live statistics will be available via owlsports.com.
