Temple University Athletics
Temple Retires Skip Wilson's Number, Falls To Saint Louis, 14-10, in 11 Innings
4.28.07 | Baseball
April 28, 2007
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AMBLER, PA - Former Temple baseball head coach Skip Wilson had his number retired and the University's field officially named in his honor on Saturday afternoon on the Ambler Campus. The Hall of Famer won 1,034 games over 46 seasons and led the Owls to two trips to the College World Series in 1972 and 1977. On the field, Temple tied the game with five runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth only to fall to Saint Louis, 14-10, in 11 innings.
Hundreds of former players, friends and family turned out to witness the event. Wilson was presented with a framed #6 jersey and becomes the first person in program history to have his number retired. A plaque in his honor was also dedicated behind home plate recognizing the naming of the field. Among the players on hand included former major leaguers John Marzano '84 and Bobby Higginson '92.
Between the lines, the Owls (14-26, 6-11 A-10) hardly played well enough to win, committing seven errors and walking 10 batters, but battled back to tie the score. Trailing 10-5 heading into its final at-bat, TU scored five runs with two outs to send the game into extra innings. Sophomore Jamie Abercrombie had the big hit in the inning, a two-run single through the right side to tie the game at 10-10. Sophomore Sean Barksdale, senior Dan Brady and junior Mike Kelch had clutch RBI hits in the frame to set up Abercrombie's single.
Junior shortstop-turned-closer Ryan Weber fought out of a bases-loaded jam in the tenth, but wasn't as lucky in the 11th. The right-hander, throwing on consecutive days for the first time all season, allowed a lead-off single to Casey Moore and walked pinch-hitter Ryan Bennett. He then threw a sacrifice bunt attempt into right field that allowed two runs to score. The Billikens (11-32, 7-9 A-10) added two more runs to complete the scoring.
Weber (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing three earned runs in an inning of work. Mark Zielinski (1-2) picked up the win in relief with one scoreless inning.
Weber led the 16-hit charge with three safeties, including a double. Five players had a pair of hits, including Barksdale, Brady, Kelch, Abercrombie and sophomore Kyle Obal.
The series concludes on Sunday at 11 AM.
