Temple University Athletics
Orzechowski Has Five Hits In 8-6 Loss At Lafayette
4.30.08 | Baseball
April 30, 2008
EASTON, PA - Lafayette scored seven runs in the second and third innings to erase an early 4-0 deficit and beat Temple, 8-6, on Wednesday at Kamine Stadium. Senior Stan Orzechowski was 5-for-5 at the plate and scored a pair of runs. His career-high five base knocks were part of a 15-hit attack for Temple, the most in a losing effort since collecting 19 in a 21-17 loss to Duquesne on May 12, 2007.
The top seven Owls in the lineup had at least one hit as the visitors posted 14 singles and a double. Temple led 4-0 in the first inning after the first seven batters of the game reached base to chase Lafayette starter Joseph Vernon, who failed to record an out.
After Orzechowski and junior Kyle Obal opened the game with singles, junior Sean Barksdale ripped a double to centerfield to give TU a 1-0 lead. A walk to sophomore Matt Heltz loaded the bases and junior Mark Ortega also was issued a free pass to score Obal.
A freshman Steve Nikorak fielder's choice plated a run and junior Jamie Abercrombie had a single to right to make it 4-0.
The Leopards (22-21) poured it on in the second, scoring five runs on a pair of home runs to quickly erase the deficit. Matt Hall blasted a three-run shot to right and a two-out, two-run dinger by Daniel Bierce made it 5-4, Lafayette.
The hosts added a pair in the third on a solo shot by Adam McMahon and a RBI single by Tom Hayes that extended the lead to 7-4.
The Cherry and White continued to get runners on base, doing so in all but one inning. But inning ending double-plays killed threats in the second, third, and fifth.
Temple scored two unearned runs in the seventh to draw within one at 7-6. Orzechowski led off with a single and moved to second when Obal reached on an error. A single by Heltz loaded the bases for Ortega, who drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Nikorak collected his second single of the game to drive in Obal, but Lafayette brought in Tyler Chromey to retire the final out of the inning.
Nikorak (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing seven earned runs in three innings. It was his first tough outing after going at least five innings in all three of his previous starts without surrendering more than three earned runs.
Sophomore Mike Click and freshman Jordan Cannon combined to throw four innings of scoreless relief for the Owls.
Four Temple players had multi-hit games, led by Orzechowski's five. Obal had three, while Barksdale and Nikorak each had two. Orzechowski is the second Owl to record five hits in a game this season as Heltz did so on April 19 versus Duquesne.
Jason Morytko (1-2) picked up the win for Lafayette. He allowed two runs, both unearned, in 6.2 innings of relief. Steve Roberts collected his fourth save of the season by pitching the eighth and ninth.
The Owls (20-22) will look to snap a five-game losing streak when it visits George Washington in a three-game Atlantic 10 series beginning on Friday at 4 PM.
