Temple University Athletics
Baseball Falls To Liberty, 15-11
3.8.09 | Baseball
March 8, 2009
LYNCHBURG, VA - Temple recorded 18 hits, its most in 27 games, but Liberty's potent offense proved to be too much to handle as the Flames completed the four-game series sweep with a 15-11 victory on Sunday at Worthington Stadium. Senior Sean Barksdale had four hits, including a double and home run, and drove in two runs while classmate Jamie Abercrombie was 4-for-4.
The Owls could not find an answer for the Liberty offense during the series, which batted .411 on its way to scoring 56 runs to improve to 7-3. The Flames had 16 doubles and hit 11 home runs in the four games.
On Sunday, the Cherry and White did its share of damage at the plate, scoring 11 runs on 18 hits, including three home runs. Senior Carmen Del Mastro launched the first dinger of his career, a three-run shot in the second to highlight a six-run inning that put the Owls ahead 6-1. Barksdale hit a solo homer in the eighth and senior Mark Ortega added a two-run blast in the ninth.
Senior Matt Mongiardini made his first start of the season on the mound, giving up an earned run in the first as he works his way back to full strength. TU (2-6) responded with a six-spot, all with two outs, in the second to take an early lead for the third straight contest.
Sophomore Ben Flanary drove in junior Tony Jusino and Ortega, who led off with back-to-back singles, with a two-out single up the middle. Sophomore Byron McKoy followed with a double and Del Mastro blasted his three-run homer to right to make it 5-1. Barksdale then doubled to chase Liberty starter Chris McDougal and scored on senior Kyle Obal's double.
The Flames cut the deficit to 6-5 with four runs in the third off junior reliever Mike Click. Barksdale's RBI single in the fourth put the Owls up by two, but as it had done all weekend, Liberty put together a big inning to take the lead for good.
The hosts scored five unearned runs in the fifth to take a 10-7 lead and never looked back, although the Owls continued to put runs on the board. McKoy led off the seventh with a double and scored when Barksdale reached base on an error to make it 10-8 but Liberty added a run in the bottom of the frame and another four in the eighth to complete its 15 runs.
The two homers by Barksdale and Ortega accounted for Temple's final runs.
Jusino had three hits for the Owls, while McKoy and Ortega added two each. Freshman Tyler Horst suffered the loss, allowing five runs (one earned) in two innings of relief. He falls to 0-1.
Carter Browning (1-0) earned the win for Liberty after allowing one earned run in 4.1 innings. Austin Poretz picked up his first save with three innings of relief.
The Cherry and White are set to host regional rival Rutgers on Tuesday in the home opener. It will be the Scarlet Knights first visit to Temple since 1995. First pitch is set for 3 PM.
