Temple University Athletics
Bats Come to Life as Owls Top Duquesne 8-5 in Conference Opener
3.20.09 | Baseball
March 20, 2009
AMBLER, Pa. – Senior Carmen Del Mastro finished with a career-high four hits, including two doubles and one RBI, as the bats came to life in the Owls’ 8-5 conference-opening victory over Duquesne.
Senior Mark Ortega added three hits and two RBI, junior Tony Jusino added three hits and one RBI and seniors Sean Barksdale and Kyle Obal each added two hits and two RBI as part of the 15-hit Cherry and White offensive assault.
Sophomore Ben White (1-2) picked up the victory for the Owls (5-10, 1-0), allowing five runs in 5.2 innings-pitched while striking out five. Junior Ryan Thomas picked up the four-out save, striking out the side in the ninth. Sophomore Jordan Cannon also pitched well in relief, pitching two innings with two strikeouts and getting the Owls out of a huge one-out, runners-on-second-and-third jam in the sixth inning.
After falling behind 3-0 to the Dukes, the Temple offense kicked into gear in the bottom of the third. Following a double by Del Mastro and a walk by Barksdale, Obal whacked a two-RBI double down the left-field line to cut the Dukes’ lead to 3-2. Obal would score two batters later on Jusino’s RBI single to right field to tie the game 3-3.
With the Dukes back on top 4-3 in the fifth, the Owls took the lead for good with a big four-hit, three-run inning. Del Mastro got things start with his third hit of the game, a single to center field. After stealing second base, he would be knocked home by Barksdale's single to center, knotting the game 4-4. The Owls took the lead three batters later, when Ortega’s bases-loaded single scored two runs. The Owls finished the fifth with a 6-4 lead.
With the lead down to 6-5 in the eight, the Owls added two insurance runs behind a Del Mastro RBI double and the second Barksdale RBI single of the game, bringing the game to the 8-5 final.
Senior Jamie Abercrombie added a single for the Cherry and White.
Gary Pierpoint took the loss for the Dukes, tossing seven innings while allowing six earned runs. At the plate, Anthony Manley, Rick Devereaux and Andrew Heck each finished with two hits for the Dukes.
The wins marks the second-consecutive season that the Owls have won their Atlantic 10 opener.
The Owls move to 14-16 all-time against the Dukes.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow in the second game of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
