Temple University Athletics
Walk-off Single Gives La Salle 6-5 Win Over Temple
3.30.07 | Baseball
March 30, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - La Salle freshman Davis Hewett's two-run single with one out in the ninth inning gave the host Explorers a 6-5 victory over Temple in the Atlantic 10 series opener on Friday at Hank DeVincent Field. La Salle scored five unanswered runs and spoiled junior Arshwin Asjes' best start of the season. The junior struck out a career-high nine batters and allowed three earned runs in seven innings but received the no-decision. Junior Mike Kelch had a career-high four hits, including a pair of doubles, for Temple.
The Cherry and White got to La Salle starter Dan Waters early, chasing the southpaw after taking a 5-1 lead in the middle of the fifth inning. After a Kelch lead-off double, junior Devon Swope socked his second homer in as many games to put TU up 2-0 in the second. Kelch again doubled with one out in the fourth and scored on a senior Dan Brady (Havertown, PA / Haverford) single.
Freshman Matt Heltz doubled to start the fifth and moved to third on a bunt by junior Stan Orzechowski. Junior Ryan Weber then laced a RBI triple to deep center and later scored on a Kelch single. That would complete the scoring for the Owls, who left two runners on in the fifth, seventh and ninth innings against reliever Dennis Burge.
"We need our hitters to step up," Valli said. "We had opportunities to separate the game in the early, middle and late innings.
La Salle plated a run in the fourth and added two more in the sixth off Asjes to make it 5-3. The right-hander ended his day after seven innings and was replaced by freshman Matt Blackburn in the eighth. Hewett reached base on an error to lead off the frame, moved to second on a groundout, stole third and scored when the throw sailed into leftfield to cut the deficit to 5-4.
Valli turned to freshman southpaw Richie Gargel to start the ninth against fellow lefty John Malloy. The freshman, who has hit safely in his first 20 collegiate games, singled through the right side to open the frame. Gargel was lifted for classmate Kyle Monahan, who recorded the first out of the inning on a failed sacrifice bunt. But a single by Rich Prall (3-for-4) and a hit batsmen loaded the bases for Hewett, who grounded a single between Kelch and Weber on the left side to drive in two runs and send the hosts into celebration.
Besides Kelch's four safeties, only Swope and Weber had multiple hits. Malloy, TJ Chism and Hewett all had two hits for La Salle (8-12, 1-3 A-10).
"We put a lot of pressure on our freshmen pitchers late in the game when we don't handle the ball defensively," Valli said. "We're asking freshmen to be perfect in situations they've never been in before."
Burge (3-0) picked up the win with 4.2 shutout innings of relief. Monahan (0-1) suffered the loss for Temple (7-14, 1-3 A-10).
The series resumes on Saturday at 1 PM.
