Temple University Athletics
Late Rally Gives Fordham Series Sweep Of Temple
4.27.08 | Baseball
April 27, 2008
AMBLER, PA - Fordham's Rich Goulian drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with two outs in the eighth inning to propel the Rams to a series sweep of Temple with a 8-5 victory on Sunday at Skip Wilson Field. The visitors, who took their first lead of the game on Goulian's single, added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth. Freshman Byron McKoy continued his torrid hitting with two singles and a double for the Owls.
With the score tied at 4-4 after seven, Temple (20-21, 11-7 A-10) exhibited some great base-running and some not-so-great base-running. McKoy led off the inning with a single and stole second with junior Jamie Abercrombie at the plate. Abercrombie then dropped a bunt down the third-base line and beat the throw to first for an infield hit.
The throw was in the dirt at first and McKoy got caught halfway between third and home, and was tagged out for the first out. Abercrombie, who was trying to make it to second if a rundown ensued, was then thrown out retreating to first. Making matters worse, McKoy was injured on the play and was forced out of the game with an apparent foot injury. Having the speedster out of the game would come back to haunt the Owls an inning later.
Senior Stan Orzechowski was hit by a pitch with two outs and moved to second on a wild pitch. Junior Sean Barksdale then chopped a groundball in the hole at short, which Goulian fielded on the run and threw off-balance to first. Barksdale beat the throw and Orzechowski rounded third and kept going to score the go-ahead run to make it 5-4, Temple.
Senior Arshwin Asjes came into the game to start the eighth and retired the first batter on a groundout. PJ Como then singled and Ryan David doubled to give the Rams second and third with one out. Asjes struck the next batter out, but Goulian lined a single into right to make it 6-5, Fordham.
In the eighth, junior Mark Ortega walked and freshman Steve Nikorak singled with one out. Freshman Ben Flanary then lofted a deep fly-ball to leftfield that died just short of the warning track for the second out.
McKoy's spot was next in the order, but was currently occupied with Asjes, who has not seen an at-bat in three seasons at Temple. When McKoy came out of the game, the Owls lost the designated hitter as Orzechowski moved into centerfield. Senior Tom Dolan was inserted as a pinch-hitter in a tough spot and popped to short to end the inning.
Fordham (25-18-1, 9-9 A-10) added a pair of runs in the ninth and the Owls could not push across a run in the bottom half of the frame.
The Cherry and White took a 3-0 lead after three innings on an Abercrombie RBI single in the first and an Orzechowski RBI single and junior Kyle Obal fielder's choice in the third. Fordham bounced back with two runs in the third, but the Owls made it 4-2 in the fourth on McKoy's sacrifice fly.
Temple's defense continued to plague it as the Rams scored a pair of unearned runs in the fifth to tie the score.
Senior Mike Mongiardini pitched well enough to win, allowing one earned run in 5.1 innings, while striking out four. He was saddled with the no-decision.
Asjes (0-1) blew his first save of the season and suffered the loss. He allowed two earned runs in an inning.
Abercrombie, Barksdale and Nikorak each had a pair of hits for Temple. McKoy, who now leads the team with a .366 batting average, has hit safely in 11 straight games. He is hitting .489 with five doubles and three home runs during that span.
Jake Rabinowitz (3-1) earned the win for Fordham with four innings of relief of starter Brando Casalicchio. Rabinowitz allowed two earned runs and struck out two. Chris Kaible picked his ninth save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
Ryan McCrann and Ryan David each had three hits for the Rams.
Temple wrapped up a program-record 12-game homestand with a 6-6 record. The Owls currently stand in fourth place in the Atlantic 10, two games back of league-leading Xavier.
TU visits Lafayette on Wednesday at 3:30 PM.
