Temple University Athletics
Late Rally Dooms Owls In 14-8 Loss At Penn State
4.11.07 | Baseball
April 11, 2007
STATE COLLEGE, PA - Penn State scored seven runs in the eighth inning to complete a late-game rally and defeat Temple, 14-8, in non-conference action on Wednesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. As opposed to yesterday's win over Villanova, which featured only two errors and no walks, tonight's game sported nine errors and 12 walks in a wild affair. Senior Dan Brady had three hits to pace the Temple offense.
The motto of the TU baseball team could be confused with the US Postal Service's "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night..." as the team played through a cold and steady rain in State College. Over the weekend, the Owls battled freezing temperatures and snow squalls in an Atlantic 10 series at Dayton. The wet weather may have impacted the fielding (nine errors combined), pitching (12 walks) and time of game (3:39).
The Cherry and White led 7-3 after scoring three runs in the top of the fifth. But the Nittany Lions rallied to score two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, one in the seventh and seven in the eighth to secure the win. It was the first meeting between the two schools since 1999, but the 83rd in the series dating back to 1929.
PSU (9-17) scored the go-ahead run on Joe Blackburn's RBI triple off freshman Matt Blackburn. The hosts added five more runs in the frame off three walks, three hits, an error and a sacrifice fly.
Of Penn State's 14 runs, only six were earned off seven Temple pitchers, all of whom did not throw an inning for Temple last season. Freshman Ryan Thomas got the start and allowed three unearned runs before being chased for classmate Mike Click. Click threw well for three scoreless innings before running into trouble in the fifth. Blackburn (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing two earned runs in the eighth.
The Owls (11-18) did manage 14 hits off five PSU hurlers, their fourth straight game with at least 12 safeties. Five TU players had at least two hits, led by Brady's three. Sophomore Sean Barksdale had two singles and extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
Temple did most of its damage in the third and fifth innings. RBI singles by junior Ryan Weber and classmate Mike Kelch, combined with a passed ball and an error gave TU a 4-3 lead in the third.
The visitors went ahead 7-3 in the fifth with three runs. Singles by Barksdale and Brady set the scene for a sophomore Jamie Abercrombie sacrifice bunt. The throw went into right field and allowed Barksdale to score. Freshman Matt Heltz then provided a two-run single to put the Owls up by four. Temple added another unearned run, its third of the game, in the sixth.
Matt Ogrodnik (2-1) picked up the win with an inning of scoreless relief. Jim Leitgeb had a pair of hits and three RBI for Penn State.
The Cherry and White visits Atlantic 10 rival Richmond for a three-game set beginning on Friday at 2 PM. Both GameTracker and live video will be available for the entire series.
