Temple University Athletics
Lafayette Rallies To Beat Temple, 10-6
4.29.09 | Baseball
April 29, 2009
AMBLER, PA - Lafayette scored nine runs in its final four at-bats, including five in the eighth to retake the lead and defeat Temple, 10-6, on Wednesday at Skip Wilson Field. The loss spoiled another strong pitching performance by junior Mike Click, who did not allow an earned run in four innings. Five Owls had two hits each, led by junior Tony Jusino, who also had two RBI.
It marked the second straight day that Temple has run into trouble in the eighth, as a two-out single by Villanova gave the Wildcats a 7-6 win yesterday. This afternoon, the Leopards turned a 4-3 deficit into an 8-4 lead with five hits and two walks.
AJ Pissari had a two-run double that gave Lafayette (21-23) the lead and Daniel Bierce followed with a two-run homer for some insurance. The visitors added two runs in the ninth.
Click, the reigning Big Five Pitcher of the Week, continued to throw well from a new arm slot. He started and scattered five hits, allowing only an unearned run in the fourth inning. The junior has given up one earned run in his last 13.1 innings for a 0.68 ERA.
Temple had 12 hits but stranded nine runners on base. Senior Kyle Obal extended his hitting streak to 11 with two base-hits and Jusino ran his streak to 10 games. Seniors Sean Barksdale, Lenny DelGrippo and sophomore Byron McKoy all had two hits for the Owls.
Trailing 1-0 in the fifth, TU scored four runs to take a 4-1 lead. Seniors Carmen Del Mastro and Jamie Abercrombie had consecutive RBI singles in the frame. The duo would later score on a throwing error and a wild pitch, respectively.
The Cherry and White had baserunners every inning the rest of the way but didn't push a run across until two outs in the ninth. Jusino ripped a two-run double to cut the deficit to 10-6 but it was too little, too late.
Junior Kyle Monahan allowed five earned runs in 3.1 innings to suffer the loss. He falls to 1-4.
Lafayette's Ryan Hanna (5-3) picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Bierce had three hits and drove in three.
Temple (16-24) visits Richmond in a three-game Atlantic 10 series beginning on Friday. All games will be video streamed via UR's SpiderTV.
NOTES: The Owls will visit Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday, May 6 to replace two mid-week games (St. John's, Delaware) that were cancelled due to scheduling conflicts...TU has lost eighth games this season when tied or leading after seven innings.
