Temple University Athletics
Mongiardini, Asjes Shutout Dayton In Opener; Owls Fall In Nightcap
5.10.08 | Baseball
May 10, 2008
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score | Postgame Show
AMBLER, PA - Junior Matt Mongiardini and senior Arshwin Asjes combined for a complete game shutout in the opener to lead Temple to a doubleheader split with Dayton on Saturday at Skip Wilson Field. Mongiardini allowed just three hits in 7.1 innings in the 1-0 victory for his sixth win and Asjes struck out three in 1.2 innings for his seventh save. The Flyers won the nightcap, 11-2.
Mongiardini (6-4) was impressive in one of his best outings of a fine junior season. He did not allow a runner past second base and surrendered just one base-hit over the first five frames. The Toms River, NJ native struck out four, walked two and lowered his ERA to a team-best 3.41. It was the first shutout by the Temple pitching staff since Mongiardini threw all nine innings in a 7-0 victory over Saint Louis on April 29, 2007.
"Matt pitched great," head coach Rob Valli said. "He moved the ball around and we needed a shot in the arm from a starting pitcher, especially with two games to play in the same day."
Asjes worked hard for the final five outs to pick up his seventh save. He entered the game in the eighth with a runner on second and one out. Jake Hoover lined a ball back at Asjes, who slowed it down enough before it reached junior 2B Carmen Del Mastro for the second out, moving Marshall MacDonald to third. Asjes then got Cole Tyrell to fly out to right to end the inning.
In the ninth, Ryan Nevill led off with a single and Temple (22-26, 13-10 A-10) mishandled a sacrifice bunt attempt to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Asjes appeared to hit pinch-hitter Jimmy Roesinger with a pitch, but the ball was deemed to hit his bat for a foul ball. He recovered to strike Roesinger out.
Asjes struck out Jacob Spaeth for the second out but walked Kevin Miller to load the bases. The senior then got Scott Dunwoody on a checked swing strikeout to end the game. Asjes is now alone in second place on the single season save list, one behind Peter Moore, who saved eight in 1999. He also moved into fourth on the career save list.
Temple scored its only run in the first inning. Del Mastro drew a one-out walk and moved to third on junior Sean Barksdale's single. Barksdale then stole second and Del Mastro scored when the throw sailed into centerfield. The unearned run would be the only tally of the contest for Temple, who was limited to just five hits, two of which were bunt singles in the eighth, by Dayton starter Lucas Farden.
Farden (4-7) suffered the loss, despite throwing a fine game. He did not allow an earned run in eight innings and struck out six while walking one. The right-hander retired 15 straight batters after Barksdale's first inning single.
In the nightcap, the Flyers scored 11 unanswered runs to rally from a 2-0 deficit to earn the split. Senior Tom Dolan threw well for the Owls for the second straight outing, surrendering three earned runs, all on home runs, in six innings. He suffered the loss to fall to 4-5.
The Cherry and White took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Sophomore Matt Heltz led off with a double and scored on a single by junior Mark Ortega. Ortega moved to third on Del Mastro's bunt single and scored on junior Steve Mury's groundout.
Dayton (29-22, 11-12 A-10) got on the board with only its third hit on Shawn Gizynski's solo home run to right-center in the fifth. Marshall MacDonald then blasted a two-run to right to give the Flyers a lead for good in the sixth.
The visitors then added to the lead with three runs in the seventh and five in the ninth. Quinn Haselhorst (5-2) picked up the complete-game victory, allowing just one earned run in nine innings.
"The Dayton pitchers really threw outstanding," Valli said. "Let's tip out hat to those guys."
Ortega had three hits in game two and Del Mastro added two for the Owls.
The win keeps the Owls in fifth place in the Atlantic 10, one game ahead of sixth place St. Bonaventure. TU holds a two-game lead over seventh place Fordham and Dayton. The top six teams will qualify for the A-10 Tournament, held May 21-24 at Campbell's Field in Camden, NJ.
The 13 A-10 wins are the second most conference wins by Temple in the program's history. The record is 15 set in 1960 and 2001.
Temple will honor its seven seniors and their parents before tomorrow's game beginning at 12:45 PM. John Coyle, Eric Fritz, Mike Kelch, Mike Mongiardini, Stan Orzechowski, Asjes and Dolan will be making their final appearance at Skip Wilson Field.
First pitch is set for 1 PM.
"It's a great day for our seniors and we hope that they, and their families, really enjoy it," Valli said.
