Temple University Athletics
Owls Drop 4-3 Decision In Series Finale At Bethune-Cookman
2.25.08 | Baseball
Feb. 25, 2008
DAYTONA BEACH, FL - After managing just one hit over the first seven innings, Temple's bats finally came alive in the final two frames, banging out seven hits and three runs. But the late rally came up just short, allowing host Bethune-Cookman to escape with a 4-3 victory over the Cherry and White in the series finale on Monday at Jackie Robinson Park.
BCU starter Eric Thomas (1-0) kept the Owls off balance through seven shutout innings, surrendering only an infield single to senior Stan Orzechowski in the third. The Wildcats went to the bullpen in the eighth with a 1-0 lead and Temple looked to take full advantage of the change on the mound.
Junior Kyle Obal led off with a single and classmate Carmen Del Mastro followed with a single of his own. A bunt single by junior Mark Ortega loaded the bases for the top of the order.
Before Orzechowski could get a chance to tie the game, Obal was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch. Orzechowski flew out to right for the second out and junior Jamie Abercrombie was intentionally walked to get to the reigning Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year, Sean Barksdale, with the bases loaded.
Unfortunately, Barksdale grounded to second to end the inning with Bethune-Cookman holding a slim 1-0 advantage.
The Temple bullpen ran into some trouble in the bottom of the frame when two walks, two hits, an error and a balk quickly turned into a three-run inning for the hosts. Sophomore Ryan Thomas retired the only two batters he faced to escape from the jam.
Trailing 4-0, the Owls easily could have packed it up for the flight back to Philadelphia. Instead, the Cherry and White made it an exciting final inning for Bethune-Cookman.
Yesterday's hero, freshman Byron McKoy led off with a double. After a groundout, he scored on sophomore Matt Heltz's triple to right-center. Following an Obal walk, a RBI-groundout by Del Mastro plated Heltz to make the score 4-2.
Ortega then singled and Orzechowski doubled to left to score Obal and make the score 4-3. In almost a replay of the inning before, Abercrombie was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs for Barksdale, but the Glenolden, PA native grounded out to second to end the contest.
Lost in the late inning rallies was the fine pitching performance of senior Mike Mongiardini, who was making his first start after transferring from Yale. The southpaw allowed just two hits and one earned run in six innings, while striking out three. He suffered the hard-luck loss to fall to 0-1.
Orzechowski and Ortega each had two hits to lead Temple (1-2).
The Owls will travel to Old Dominion (1-1) on Friday for a three-game series with the Monarchs. ODU was ranked #25 in the nation by Baseball America in the preseason before splitting a doubleheader with Rutgers on Sunday.
NOTES: Opponents are hitting just .214 off the Owls after three games...Abercrombie was intentionally walked twice in the last two innings of today's game, which matches his career total in 105 games at Temple...Temple Hall of Fame basketball coach John Chaney is a 1953 graduate of BCU.
