Temple University Athletics
Temple Falls To City-Rival Penn, 5-1
3.14.07 | Baseball
March 14, 2007
Box Score | Coach Valli Postgame Comments
PHILADELPHIA - Sophomore Jamie Abercrombie went 4-for-4 but the rest of the team combined for just three hits as the Owls dropped a 5-1 decision to city rival Penn on Wednesday at Mieklejohn Stadium. Abercrombie also drove in TU's lone run with a triple in the fourth. The loss snaps a five-game winning streak against the Quakers.
Both teams got their pitching staffs plenty of work, especially Penn, who sent nine hurlers to the hill. The change in mound-men seemed to throw the Owl offense off, except for Abercrombie, who had four hits off four different pitchers. Junior Stan Orzechowski had Temple's only other extra-base hit, a double to left in the seventh.
Temple used four pitchers, three of whom were freshman, in the contest. Freshman Rob Chamra started and received the loss after throwing three innings and allowing two earned runs. He worked out of jams in all three innings, stranded five Quakers in the process, and pitched well for the second straight start.
Two more rookie hurlers, Kyle Monahan and Matt Blackburn, also had impressive showings. Monahan tossed a pair of shutout innings, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, and Blackburn pitched a perfect eight inning for Temple.
"Our pitchers gave us a great chance to win," head coach Rob Valli said. "We got good performances from our freshmen today."
Penn (4-5) got on the board in the first on a single by Josh Corn and a sacrifice-fly by Kyle Armeny in the third to take a 2-0 lead. TU answered back on Abercrombie's RBI-triple in the fourth.
The Quakers added three unearned runs in the seventh. Corn had a RBI double and a two-run single by Steve Gable added some insurance for the hosts.
The Cherry and White had several chances to score runs, leaving nine runners on base, including six in scoring position.
"Anytime we have 34 at-bats and 17 of those we hit ahead in the count and can't capitalize, it's disappointing," Valli said.
Reid Terry (1-2) earned the win after starting and pitching a scoreless first inning. Corn was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI, while three other Quakers had two hits each.
Temple (4-10) hosts Binghamton (2-4) on Friday at Skip Wilson Field. First pitch is set for 3 PM.
