Temple University Athletics
Baseball Falls To Richmond In Series Opener
4.11.08 | Baseball
April 11, 2008
AMBLER, PA - Richmond scored 23 runs on 21 hits and outplayed Temple in all three facets of the game to take the series opener, 23-0, on Friday at Skip Wilson Field. Ten of the 21 hits went for extra bases, including three home runs, off five Owl hurlers. Senior Mike Kelch had a pair of singles to lead TU.
Things began ominously for the Cherry and White when UR's Joe White hit the third pitch of the game over the leftfield fence for his first home run of the season. The Spiders added four more runs in the second, three coming on when Temple misplayed a sacrifice bunt, and three in the fourth to take a 8-0 lead.
Richmond (15-17-1, 6-4 A-10) opened the game up by scoring a combined 15 runs in the fifth and sixth innings. The visitors sent 25 batters to the plate in the two frames, and eight of their 12 hits went for extra bases.
Senior Eric Fritz pitched the final three innings without allowing a run for Temple. Senior Tom Dolan suffered the loss after surrendering nine earned runs in 4.1 innings. He falls to 3-4.
The Owls (14-16, 6-4), who lost for the seventh time in their past eight games, made a season-high six errors and their six hits were tied for the second-least in a game this year.
A pair of local products starred on the mound for Richmond. Matt Zielinski (3-1), from La Salle HS, picked up the win with six scoreless innings. He scattered five hits and struck out four. Anthony Cafagna (Chestnut Hill Academy) did not allow a run in the final three innings for his first collegiate save.
Mike Merganthaler had two doubles and a single to drive in four runs for the Spiders. White was a triple away from the cycle and scored three runs.
The series resumes on Saturday at 1 PM. Junior Matt Mongiardini, who is 4-2 with an A-10 leading 1.94 ERA will oppose Richmond's Stephen Owens (2-1, 3.98).
