Temple University Athletics
COLONIALS HAND TEMPLE AN 11-1 LOSS
4.21.06 | Baseball
AMBLER, PA -- George Washington scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back in handing Temple an 11-1 loss on Friday afternoon at Ambler Field. The game was called after eight innings due to the Atlantic 10's 10-run rule that is in effect for all conference games. A trio of freshmen--Jamie Abercrombie, John Coyle and Pat Riley--had a pair of hits for the Owls.
Senior Justin Mendek got the start for Temple for the first time this season in conference play. He was greeted by a four-run first inning as the Colonials took advantage of a pair of walks and an error to take an early lead. Mendek, who had walked seven batters in his last 19.1 innings, issued six free passes in 5.1 innings today. He suffered the loss to drop to 0-5 this season after allowing nine runs (six earned).
Meanwhile, GW (15-23, 6-7 A-10) starter Derrick Lutz impressed the numerous scouts in attendance with a hard-breaking slider. He pitched six innings without allowing an earned run to improve to 3-2 and lower his ERA to 1.26. Jim Duggan pitched the final two innings and struck out three.
Temple (7-29, 1-12) was able to scratch across a run in the bottom of the second off Lutz without a hit. With two outs, Riley reached on an error by the GW second baseman and moved to second when the errant throw reached foul territory. He then scored on a Coyle groundball, which was thrown away as well. The unearned run would be the only tally of the day for the Owls.
GW added runs in the fourth and sixth innings, which featured solo homers by Colonial leadoff hitter Michael Parker (3-for-3, three runs scored). George Washington scored two unearned runs in the fifth off Mendek and two runs in the eighth off senior reliever Tim Andrel.
Charlie Kruer went 4-for-5, while Andrew Abokhair and Matt Boyd each had a pair of hits for GW.
The two teams will meet up on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the second game of the series. Arshwin Asjes (3-4, 3.25 ERA) will take on Josh Wilke (3-3, 2.95) in match-up of righthanders. Game time is 1 p.m. with live statistics available via GameTracker.
