Temple University Athletics
Baseball's Struggles Continue In 9-2 Loss To Manhattan
3.13.09 | Baseball
March 13, 2009
AMBLER, PA - Manhattan recorded 17 hits, including two home runs, and received a complete game from starting pitcher Mike Gazzola to hand Temple its seventh straight loss by a 9-2 score on Friday at Skip Wilson Field. Senior Kyle Obal and sophomore Ben Flanary each singled and doubled for the Owls.
The Owls had a pair of leads early, both thanks to RBI hits by Obal. The senior catcher singled home classmate Carmen Del Mastro, who reached on a bunt single, in the first to give the hosts a 1-0 lead with two outs. In the fourth, his double plated senior Sean Barksdale, who led off with a single and moved to second on an error.
But after that, Gazzola cruised. The crafty southpaw allowed just three hits the rest of the way and did not allow a runner past second base. He improved to 1-1 after allowing two earned runs in nine innings.
Manhattan (4-5) opened the game up with three runs in the fifth off Temple sophomore starter Ben White. Chad Salem provided a two-out, two-run single to give the Jaspers a lead they would not relinquish.
Austin Sheffield's two-run homer in the sixth chased White and the visitors scored single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth to complete the scoring.
White (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing six earned runs in five innings. He struck out three and walked just one.
Ruben Perez had four hits and two RBI, while Mark Onorati added three hits for Manhattan.
Temple (2-8) looks to rebound on Saturday against Niagara. First pitch is set for 1 PM.
NOTES: Del Mastro upped his hitting streak to 12 games, including all 10 this season...The all-time series is tied at 4-4 with the last meeting coming in 2004...That 10-9 win was former head coach Skip Wilson's 1000th career victory...All nine Jaspers had at least one hit.
