Temple University Athletics
Diamond Owls Fall To Delaware State, 14-11
3.12.08 | Baseball
March 12, 2008
DOVER, DE - Delaware State's' Jarrett Bibb launched a three-run home run with two outs in the eighth to break a tie ballgame and give the Hornets a 14-11 victory over visiting Temple on Wednesday at Solider Field. The wild game saw the two teams combine for 25 runs, 29 hits, 13 extra-base hits and six errors. Freshman Byron McKoy led the Owls with three hits.
After DSU took an 8-7 lead after five innings, Temple rebounded with two runs in the sixth to take a 9-8 lead. With two outs, senior Mike Kelch doubled, junior Mark Ortega walked and sophomore Matt Heltz was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Freshman Steve Nikorak, who was making his first collegiate start, then chopped a ball to shortstop. The play was mishandled, with the grounder reaching the outfield, and allowed Kelch and Ortega to score to give TU a 9-8 advantage.
Sophomore Ryan Thomas, who worked out of a one-out jam in the fifth, got out of trouble in the sixth. The first two Hornets reached base on bunt base-hits, but Thomas struck out a batter and induced a 6-3 double-play to end the inning.
Junior Sean Barksdale tripled home McKoy in the seventh to make it 10-8, but from that point on, it was pretty much all Delaware State. The hosts scored three in the bottom of the seventh to take an 11-10 lead with two runs coming off the bat of Jose Sanchez.
Ortega led off the eighth with a towering home run to left that tied the score, but Temple was unable to add any more runs.
Freshman Ben White, who like Thomas worked out of a tough spot an inning prior, allowed a lead-off single to James Friel to open the eighth. Friel was then sacrificed to second and moved to third on a groundout. With two outs, White (0-1) issued a walk to Troy Drummond and Bibb came up big with his three-run blast to center.
JR McAllister retired the Owls in order in the ninth for his first save of the season. David Langton (1-2) picked up the win with one inning of relief.
Temple (4-6) took advantage of five Delaware State errors and scored five unearned runs off four hurlers, but left nine runners on base. The Cherry and White also set season-highs in runs (11) and hits (13). Kelch doubled twice and Ortega, Nikorak and junior Steve Mury all had two hits.
Bibb had four hits and knocked in six to pace the Hornets (2-10).
The Owls are back on the diamond on Friday when they host Binghamton (3-7) at 3 PM at Skip Wilson Field. The game will mark the debut of OwlAccess' live video streaming and is one of 21 home dates this season that fans can catch the team in action via owlsports.com.
