Temple University Athletics
Wild Ninth Inning Ends With Temple Falling To UMass, 13-10, In A-10 Opener
3.23.07 | Baseball
March 23, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - What was a tightly played pitcher's duel for seven full innings turned into a hitter's dream in the final two frames as Massachusetts and Temple combined for 18 runs in their last two at-bats, including 15 in the ninth inning alone. When the dust had settled, UMass took the conference opener for both teams, 13-10, at La Salle's Hank DeVincent Field on Friday morning. The game was moved from Skip Wilson Field in Ambler, PA because of unplayable field conditions.
Temple's Arshwin Asjes and Massachusetts' Chris Lloyd were cruising until the eighth. UMass led 4-1 at that point, but only two of the visitors' runs were earned off the hard-throwing TU junior. Asjes had allowed just four hits through seven innings, while Lloyd was just as good, giving up five hits and an earned run.
Whether it was fatigue by the two hurlers or the hitters finally awoke after the early 10 AM start, both teams' bats came alive in the final two innings. UMass scored a single run in the eighth to chase Asjes for freshman Kyle Monahan. The right-hander retired the final two batters of the inning and Temple came back with two runs of its own to make the score 5-3.
Junior Stan Orzechowski and classmate Ryan Weber had consecutive singles with one out. Sophomore Sean Barksdale then doubled to right to plate Orzechowski and junior Mike Kelch grounded to second to score Weber and cut the deficit to just two runs.
The marathon ninth inning began harmlessly for Monahan, who sandwiched a double by Ryan Franczek with two outs. But that's when things got interesting. Two walks, two wild pitches and a single later, UMass had scored four runs to take a 9-3 lead. Monahan was replaced by freshman Rob Chamra, who looked to get the final out of the inning. After hitting the first batter, a RBI double by Bill Rankin and a three-run two-bagger by Jim Cassidy put the Minutemen ahead, 13-3.
Temple easily could have gone down without a fight in its final at-bat. But a walk to sophomore Jamie Abercrombie and a double by freshman Matt Heltz gave the Owls some life. Sophomore Carmen Del Mastro then sliced a two-run double down the left-field line to chase Lloyd and later scored on a Barksdale single to make the score 13-6.
Kelch struck out swinging for what would have ended the game, but reached on a wild pitch. Sophomore Lenny DelGrippo and Abercrombie then hit consecutive two-run doubles and just like that, it was a 13-10 ballgame. UMass (3-6, 1-0 A-10) went to the pen once more, bringing in Aaron Smith, who closed the game out with a strikeout.
"We gave too many runs away on defense and didn't get the big hit when we need it," Temple head coach Rob Valli said. "It's difficult to win a baseball game playing that way."
Heltz led Temple (5-12, 0-1 A-10) with a career-high three hits, while a quartet of Owls had a pair of safeties. Barksdale and Abercrombie were both 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Orzechowski (three runs) and Weber added a pair of singles.
All but one Minutemen had a hit, led by Franczek's three, including a pair of doubles. Cassidy had two hits and knocked in four runs.
Asjes (0-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) in 7.2 innings.
"Arshy made some good pitches to get us out of a couple tough spots and once again he pitched well enough to win, but had very little help from our hitters," Valli said.
Lloyd improved to 1-1 for UMass. He allowed six earned runs in eight innings and struck out three batters. Smith picked up the save, his first of the year.
The series will resume on Saturday at Skip Wilson Field. First pitch is set for 1 PM. Check owlsports.com for any additional schedule updates.
