Temple University Athletics
BASEBALL FALLS TO DELAWARE, 5-2
5.9.06 | Baseball
AMBLER, PA -- Delaware jumped out to a 5-0 lead after seven innings and held on for a 5-2 non-conference victory over Temple on Tuesday at Ambler Field. Three Temple pitchers held the potent Blue Hen offense to only eight hits but the Owls could only scrape across two runs. Three freshman--Jamie Abercrombie, Steve Mury and Mike Sweet--each had two hits.
UD (28-19) got on the board with a run in the second inning on a two-out single by Brent Rogers. The visitors added a pair in their next at-bat, as Alex Buchholz singled home Todd Davison and later scored on a wild pitch in the third. After an unearned run scored in the sixth, Brandon Menchaca hit his 15th homer of the season to make the score 5-0 in the seventh.
Temple scored two runs in the bottom of the frame but could have had more. Sophomore Tom Dolan walked to lead-off the inning and scored on Mury's second double of the game. Sweet then doubled home Mury to chase reliever Tom Price. Freshman Casey Sellen was hit by a pitch and after a failed sacrifice bunt attempt, Abercrombie walked to load the bases with one out. The rally was squashed on an inning-ending double-play.
Evan Bowen (1-1) scattered four hits in six shutout innings to pick up the win. He struck out five batters and walked just one. Buchholz pitched three scoreless innings for his first save. Sophomore Rob Licata suffered the loss after allowing three earned runs in four innings. He falls to 1-4 on the season.
Sophomore Eric Fritz and senior Justin Mendek were effective in relief for TU. Fritz allowed one earned run in three innings, while striking out a career-high five batters. Mendek finished the game with two scoreless innings.
The Owls (11-36) host St. Bonaventure in a three-game Atlantic 10 series beginning on Friday. Game time is 3:30 p.m. with live statistics available on GameTracker via owlsports.com.
NOTE: Due to the installation of SprintTurf at La Salle's Hank DeVincent Field beginning this week, the Atlantic 10 series between the Explorers and Temple has been moved to Ambler Field. The two city rivals play on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, May 18-20. Senior Day ceremonies honoring Owl seniors Tim Andrel, Tim Foulkrod and Justin Mendek are set for Saturday May 20. All three games will be played at 1:00 p.m.
