Temple University Athletics
SIX-RUN INNING DOOMS TEMPLE IN 10-5 LOSS TO UMASS
4.29.06 | Baseball
AMHERST, MA -- Massachusetts recorded 17 hits and parlayed a six-run third inning into a 10-5 win over Temple on Saturday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. The Owls opened a 3-0 lead in the first but UMass took advantage of four hits and an error in the decisive frame to even the series at one win apiece. Junior Dan Brady and sophomore Devon Swope each had a pair of hits for TU.
A UMass (10-21, 8-9 A-10) offense that was mostly quiet on Friday came alive on Saturday. The Minutemen sprayed 14 singles and connected on three extra-base hits against Temple sophomore hurlers Arshwin Asjes and Eric Fritz. All nine UM starters had at least one hit, led by Lou Proietti's four.
The Owls (8-32, 2-13) got on the board with a three-spot in the first. Brady drove in his sixth run in two days with a two-run double and Swope followed with a RBI-single to give the visitors a 3-0 lead. UMass answered with a run in the second before exploding for six in the third.
Proietti led off with a double to left-center as sophomore Frank Nunan lost the fly ball in the sun. It wasn't the only miscue of the inning as Asjes had a chance to get out of the inning after knocking down a screaming line-drive back up the box. After looking the runner back to third, his throw to first was errant and allowed two more runs to score. After the dust had settled, the Minutemen held a 7-3 lead after three.
Fritz replaced Asjes in the fifth and did not allow a run until the eighth. UMass added three insurance runs in the frame to go up 10-3.
The Cherry and White tried to rally in its last at-bat but came up short. Temple loaded the bases on a freshman Mike Sweet walk and singles from freshmen Lenny Del Grippo and Steve Mury. A fielder's choice off the bat of freshman Casey Sellen plated Sweet and classmate Jamie Abercrombie lofted a sacrifice fly to plate a run for the Owls' fifth and final run.
Asjes (3-6) suffered the loss for TU, allowing seven runs (five earned) in four innings. David Sullivan (3-5) gave up four earned in eight innings for the win.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday at noon. Gametracker and streaming audio will be available via owlsports.com.
