Temple University Athletics
Charlotte Scores Three In Tenth To Beat Temple, 9-6
4.17.09 | Baseball
April 17, 2009
AMBLER, PA - Charlotte scored three runs in the top of the tenth inning to win the opening game of the series, 9-6, over Temple on Friday at Skip Wilson Field. The 49ers took advantage of three walks and two hit batters in the frame to record their fifth straight win in A-10 play. Sophomore and Charlotte, NC native Byron McKoy hit a three-run homer in the second for the Owls.
Sophomore reliever Jordan Cannon pitched well in relief for Temple, ending the seventh and ninth innings with runners in scoring position. But he ran into trouble in the tenth when Rob Lyerly led off the frame with a single and Aaron Bray walked.
He was replaced by junior Matt Blackburn. His first pitch hit Zane Williams to load the bases and Cory Tilton walked a run in to give Charlotte a 7-6 lead. Back-to-back sacrifice flies added to the lead and the Owls went down in order in the bottom of the inning to fall for the seventh straight time and fourth consecutive in conference play.
The Temple offense struggled on the day, collecting only seven hits and relied heavily on a pair of clutch hits to remain in the contest. McKoy blasted a three-run homer to right in the second, his fifth of the season, to highlight a four-run inning that tied the game at 4-4. All four runs were unearned.
Charlotte (21-13, 6-7 A-10) pushed across a run in the fourth and added an unearned run in the sixth to take a 6-4 lead.
Meanwhile, the Owls were hitless after McKoy's homer for the next 3.2 innings until senior Kyle Obal singled in the sixth and a pair of errors helped out the hosts in the seventh.
Sophomore Ben Flanary led off by reaching on an error and after a strikeout, freshman Foster Dunigan laid down a sacrifice bunt, which was also mishandled putting Owls on second and third. Senior Jamie Abercrombie then ripped a single down the right field line to tie the game.
The Cherry and White (13-19, 8-4 A-10) put runners on first and second with two outs in the eighth but were unable to take the lead. Charlotte reliever Tim Lysaught (1-0) retired the final seven batters and earned his first win of the season.
Cannon (1-4) suffered the loss after allowing two earned runs in three innings. Both runs scored after the southpaw had left the game. Sophomore starter Ben White pitched six innings, allowing four earned runs, and struck out four.
Junior Tony Jusino had two hits for TU and is 5-for-10 over the past two games.
Joe Yermal started for the 49ers and allowed six runs, all unearned, in 6.1 innings. He surrendered just four hits.
Alan Parks had two hits, including a two-run homer in the first for Charlotte. Aaron Bray and Shane Brown also had two hits.
The series resumes on Saturday at 1 PM. The game will be video streamed via OwlAccess on owlsports.com.
NOTES: Temple has dropped three straight extra inning games since winning its first two this season...Charlotte leads the all-time series, 6-1, and has won three of four at Skip Wilson Field.
