Temple University Athletics
Eighth Inning Rally Propels Temple Past Bucknell, 9-7
4.18.07 | Baseball
April 18, 2007
AMBLER, PA - Temple scored seven runs in the eighth inning, including six with two outs, to record a 9-7 come-from-behind victory over Bucknell on Wednesday at Skip Wilson Field. Sophomore Kyle Obal provided the game-winner with a two-run single to left to snap a five-game losing streak and give the Owls their second win this season when trailing after seven innings. A pair of freshman pitchers, Rob Chamra and Mike Click, combined for 8.1 innings and allowed just one earned run.
The Cherry and White could not solve Bison starter Chris Yamaguchi, who held the hosts to one earned run while striking out seven over six innings. But the Owls scratched across a run when sophomore Carmen Del Mastro walked, moved to second on a balk and scored on a Bucknell error to cut the deficit to 7-2 after seven innings.
That set up the exciting eighth in which TU plated seven runs, six coming with two outs. Obal was hit by a pitch to open the frame, junior Stan Orzechowski walked and classmate Ryan Weber singled to load the bases. Sophomore Sean Barksdale, who extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a first inning single, lined out to left to score a run.
After a flyout for the second out, the bats came alive with four singles and a walk to complete the comeback. Del Mastro singled to right to make it 7-4, and after a walk, junior Devon Swope hit a two-run single to cut the Bucknell lead to just one at 7-6. Freshman Matt Heltz came through with a clutch game-tying single to right and Obal's two-run single down the leftfield line completed the scoring.
"We needed to win today," head coach Rob Valli said. "With the way things transpired with the comeback, we have a chance for this to be a springboard game to catapult us into our series with Xavier this weekend."
Bucknell (13-19) scored four runs in the first to take an early advantage, but Chamra had his best outing of his young career to keep Temple in the game. The Bison managed just one earned run off the right-hander, who pitched a career-high 6.1 innings and allowed just two hits. He also struck out two batters.
Click (1-0) picked up his first collegiate win after throwing the final 2.1 innings. He did not allow a run and fanned a pair of Bison.
"Our freshman pitchers gave us a great performance today," Valli said.
Weber led Temple with three hits, including a pair of doubles. Barksdale (two RBI), Heltz, and senior Dan Brady all had multiple hits.
"Ryan Weber is a gamer," Valli said. "We absolutely needed every at-bat from Ryan today and he came through for us."
Temple's (12-22) only other win when trailing after seven innings came on March 11 against Buffalo when the Owls scored two in the eighth to beat the Bulls, 6-5.
Jimmy Murphy (0-1) suffered the loss for Bucknell. He surrendered four earned runs in 0.2 innings. Ben Allen and Ryan Gryskevicz each had two hits for the Bison.
The Owls will host Xavier (17-20, 10-2) in a key Atlantic 10 series beginning Friday at 3:30 PM.
