Temple University Athletics
Bats Silenced In 7-2 Loss To St. John's
3.21.07 | Baseball
March 21, 2007
YAPHANK, NY - Temple managed just five hits, four of which came in the final two innings, and dropped a non-conference match-up to St. John's, 7-2, on Wednesday afternoon. The game was moved from the Ballpark at St. John's to the turf fields of Baseball Heaven in nearby Yaphank, NY due to last weekend's winter weather. The Owls continued to flash signs of brilliance from its young pitching staff, as two freshmen and a converted sophomore combined to throw six innings of shutout relief.
The Cherry and White offense could not get on track against six St. John's pitchers. Junior Stan Orzechowski had Temple's only hit after seven frames, a single to right in the third. Trailing 4-0 heading into the inning, sophomore Carmen Del Mastro reached on an error and moved to third on Orzechowski's single. Del Mastro then scored from third when Orzechowski was caught in a run-down between first and second.
A pair of freshman kept the game close during the middle innings. Kyle Monahan and Rob Chamra each were stellar in relief roles. Monahan tossed 2.2 shutout innings and extended his scoreless streak to 5.2 frames. Chamra posted a similar line, throwing two innings of shutout ball.
St. John's (7-8) ended the streak of zeroes with three runs in the seventh. The Red Storm banged out six hits in the inning and would have had a fourth run in the frame if Orzechowski didn't throw out a runner at the plate, his third outfield assist of the young season.
The Owls (5-11) added a run in the eighth to complete the scoring. Sophomore Kyle Obal singled to lead off the inning and Del Mastro and Orzechowski also singled to load the bases with one out. A double-play groundball plated Obal but a strikeout one batter later snuffed out any chance of a comeback.
Sophomore John Coyle, a converted catcher, pitched the final 1.1 innings without allowing a run. Miguel Valcarcel earned the win for the Red Storm after throwing four innings without allowing an earned run. He also struck out five batters.
Temple hosts Massachusetts (2-6) in its conference opener on Friday at 3 PM at Skip Wilson Field.
