Temple University Athletics
Free Passes Hurt Owls In 7-4 Loss At UNC Wilmington
2.17.07 | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2007
WILMINGTON, NC - UNC Wilmington scored three runs in the seventh on five straight walks, all with two outs, to come from behind and defeat Temple, 7-4, on Saturday afternoon at Brooks Field. Junior Ryan Weber had a pair of singles and classmate Mike Kelch knocked in two runs for the Owls. The two teams meet in the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Trailing 4-3 heading into the seventh, the Seahawks took advantage of five straight walks to score three runs in the decisive seventh inning. Junior reliever Eric Fritz retired two of the first three hitters he faced, but then walked three straight to allow UNCW to tie the score. He was lifted for freshman Brett Carroll, who, in his first collegiate appearance, issued free passes to a pair of Seahawks to give the hosts a 6-4 lead. Carroll induced a ground-out to end the inning and avoid any more damage. UNC Wilmington added an insurance run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Steve Halford.
Unlike Friday's game, when the Owls (0-2) scored four runs on four solo homeruns, Temple plated all four runs on Saturday on groundballs. Kelch singled to first base for his first hit as an Owl to drive in Weber in the first to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Despite having two runners on and nobody out, TU could not capitalize and went down in order.
UNCW (2-4) responded with three runs in the fourth to retake the lead. Jes Snyder had a two-run double and Matt Holt had a RBI-single in the frame.
The Cherry and White scored three runs in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead. TU loaded the bases with no outs after senior Dan Brady was hit by a pitch, Weber singled and junior Stan Orzechowski walked. Groundouts by Kelch and sophomore Lenny DelGrippo tied the score and pinch-hitter Carmen Del Mastro reached base on an error to plate Orzechowski for the inning's third and final run.
Junior southpaw Tom Dolan started for the Owls and was effective over five innings. He received the no-decision after allowing three earned runs and striking out three. Fritz (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up three earned runs in 1.2 innings.
Allen Flood (1-0) picked up the win for UNCW by throwing two shutout innings in relief of Bradley Holt (five innings, three earned).
Snyder was 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Daniel Hargrave also had a pair of hits for the Seahawks.
Sophomore Matt Mongiardini will face UNCW's Jeff Hatcher in tomorrow's finale.
