Temple University Athletics
Owls Fall To Villanova, 10-3
4.24.07 | Baseball
April 24, 2007
PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA - Villanova's Joe Cotter cleared the bases with a three-run triple in the five-run fourth inning to give the Wildcats a 10-3 win over Temple on Tuesday at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. The triple was the only hit in the decisive frame, which featured four walks and an error, as the Owls threw a quintet of freshman hurlers on the day. Three TU players had two hits to lead the offense.
The Cherry and White scored three runs in its first three at-bats, but was stifled by Nova starter Brian Streilein and a pair of relievers for the rest of the game. In the second, junior Ryan Webervsingled with one out to score freshman Matt Heltz,vand sophomore Kyle Obal scored on the play when the ball was mishandled in leftfield. Temple made it a 3-2 ballgame on Heltz's RBI single in the third, but only managed three more hits the rest of the way.
"We had every opportunity to break the game open early on," head coach Rob Valli said. "We stranded too many runners in the second and third innings."
Freshman starter Ryan Thomas worked out of jams in the first three innings, holding VU to a pair of runs (one earned) when the damage could have been much worse. He ran into trouble in the fourth, walking four out of five batters, before Cotter's triple in the gap cleared the bases. Cotter would score on the play as well, as the cut-off throw was dropped, allowing the junior to finish circling the bases.
The Wildcats (19-18) scored single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth to complete the scoring. Derek Shunk was 3-for-3 to pace Villanova.
"They scored nine of their ten runs with two outs and two strikes," Valli said. "We're one pitch away from maybe pitching a shutout. We have to find a way to close out an inning."
Thomas (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing four earned runs in 3.2 innings, despite giving up just two hits. Streilein (2-1) was the victor, throwing seven innings and surrendering two earned runs, while striking out nine.
Junior Stan Orzechowski,vWeber and Obal each had two singles. Senior Dan Brady doubled for the 41st time in his Temple career, placing him in a tie for sixth place all-time with Al Roach (2001-04).
Sophomore Sean Barksdale had his 19-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-5 showing. He fell just six games short of tying the program record of 25 set by Mike Burton in 1989.
TU (13-25) returns home to Skip Wilson Field on Friday for a three-game series with Saint Louis.
