Temple University Athletics
Temple Upsets #18 Charlotte In Opener, Falls In Nightcap
4.5.08 | Baseball
April 5, 2008
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score | Postgame Show
AMBLER, PA - Temple scored five unanswered runs and knocked off a ranked opponent for the first time in recent memory with a 5-2 victory over #18 Charlotte in game one of a Saturday doubleheader at Skip Wilson Field. It is believed to be the first win over a ranked opponent since the Owls beat Massachusetts, 3-0, on March 31, 1996. The Minutemen finished #20 in the Collegiate Baseball poll that season, but weekly polls are unavailable. The 49ers remained in first place in the Atlantic 10 by winning the nightcap, 9-5.
After three Atlantic 10 series, Temple (14-13, 6-3) stands two-games out of first place Charlotte (23-5, 8-1) and in fourth place. Duquesne (12-12, 7-1) is in second place with a game on Sunday at Rhode Island and Xavier is in third (12-14, 6-2), a half-game up on TU, and hosts Richmond on Sunday.
After a first inning home run by Charlotte's Brad McElroy put the visitors ahead, 2-0, it was all Temple. The Cherry and White took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back, breaking a streak of 15 straight wins against A-10 opponents for Charlotte.
Senior Tom Dolan, who left his last start due to arm tightness, won his third straight decision to even his record at 3-3. He allowed two earned runs in five innings and struck out three batters.
The Temple bullpen kept the defending Atlantic 10 champion off the board, as freshman Ben White and senior Arshwin Asjes combined for four scoreless innings. White pitched the sixth and seventh and allowed only one hit, while Asjes threw the final two innings for his fifth save of the season.
Offensively, the Owls made the most of seven hits and capitalized on five free passes. Senior Jamie Abercrombie was the only Temple batter with multiple hits, as he singled, doubled and scored a run.
Trailing 2-0 in the first, senior Mike Kelch ripped a two-run double to right-center and junior Carmen Del Mastro followed with a RBI single to give the Owls a 3-2 lead that they would not relinquish.
Temple added two-insurance runs in the fifth to chase Charlotte starter Zach Rosenbaum. Freshman Ben Flanary singled with one out and Abercrombie and senior Stan Orzechowski walked to load the bases.
Freshman Byron McKoy, a Charlotte, NC native, came up with a two-run single through the left side to plate Flanary and Abercrombie to give TU a three-run lead.
Rosenbaum (3-1) suffered the loss, only his second in two seasons. The right-hander surrendered four earned runs in 3.2 innings and was hurt by five walks. Kelly McLain threw 4.1 innings of scoreless relief to keep Charlotte in the contest.
Temple answered three 49er first-inning runs with three of its own, but UNCC opened the game up with three more runs in the third to complete the series victory with a 9-5 win in the nightcap. The Owls were forced to go to their bullpen earlier than they had hoped when senior Mike Mongiardini was forced to leave the game in the second inning due to arm tightness.
After only making a ninth-inning error in the first game, defense came back to haunt the Owls once again in game two. The Cherry and White made five errors, including a costly one in the third that led to a pair of unearned runs. Sophomore Ryan Thomas, who suffered the loss, allowed only two unearned runs in 3.2 innings.
Kelch again had a big game, with two hits and an RBI and McKoy was the only other Owl with multiple base knocks. Del Mastro drove in a pair of runs, despite not reaching base in the nightcap.
Trailing 8-3 in the seventh, the hosts had the bases loaded with one out as Charlotte reliever Andrew Smith walked three straight batters. Temple could only score one run though, on a Del Mastro groundout, and left two runners on. TU chipped away with another tally in the eighth, but a 49er run in the ninth proved to be enough for the 9-5 victory.
Luke Stahl (2-1) picked up the win after throwing six innings and allowing two earned runs. He struck out seven batters. McElroy, O'Brien Taylor and Shayne Moody all had three hits for Charlotte.
Temple remains at home on Tuesday when it hosts #22 St. John's. First pitch is set for 3 PM.
