Temple University Athletics
Dolan Pitches Temple Past Binghamton, 4-3
3.14.08 | Baseball
March 14, 2008
AMBLER, PA - Senior Tom Dolan threw seven strong innings for his first win and junior Kyle Obal had three hits to lead Temple past Binghamton, 4-3, on Friday afternoon at Skip Wilson Field. Dolan picked up his first win by allowing two earned runs and striking out two. Senior Arshwin Asjes pitched two scoreless innings of relief to pick up his second save.
Dolan (1-3) had his best outing of the season, retiring 11 of 12 batters during the middle innings. The Bearcats made him work in the sixth and seventh innings, but the southpaw battled his way out of both jams.
In the sixth, Binghamton plated a run on Corey Taylor's RBI single with one out to make it 4-3 and had runners on the corners. Dolan then struck out the next batter for the second out and made an athletic play covering first to tag the bag and nip Jeff Abrams by a hair.
The next inning, the first two Bearcats reached base on bunt singles, but Dolan forced a popped-up sacrifice-bunt for the first out. A walk loaded the bases, but a foul-out and fielder's choice kept the visitors trailing by one.
The drama was far from over though. Asjes stranded runners on the corners in the eighth and the game ended on a nice back-hand play by 2B Carmen Del Mastro with runners on second and third. Asjes now sports a 1.29 ERA with two saves in his first season as the team's closer.
Temple scored a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings against Binghamton starter Zach Groh. The 2006 America East Pitcher of the Year hit senior Stan Orzechowski with a pitch with two outs in the third and sophomore Jamie Abercrombie followed with a single. RBI singles from junior Sean Barksdale and sophomore Matt Heltz tied the game up at 2-2.
With two outs in the fourth, freshman Steve Nikorak walked to bring up Obal. The Derwood, MD native laid down a perfect bunt that sat on the foul line before being picked up by Binghamton catcher CJ Lukaszewski, who threw the ball into rightfield, allowing Nikorak to score from first. Obal moved to third on the play and scored on Orzechowski's single to center.
The Owls had chances to add to the lead later in the game but left two runners on in the sixth and seventh and an inning-ending, bases-loaded double-play killed the rally in the eighth.
Groh (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing three earned runs in six innings. Brian Ivan went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI to lead the Bearcats (3-8).
With rain in the forecast for Sunday, the schedule for Saturday has been modified. Temple will now host Long Island in a doubleheader beginning at noon. Both games will be broadcast live on OwlAccess with live statistics via CSTV's GameTracker.
