Temple University Athletics
Ninth-Inning Rally Dooms Baseball in 11-7 Loss to Saint Louis
5.9.09 | Baseball
May 9, 2009
Ambler, Pa. - Aided by two crucial Temple errors, Saint Louis scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to rally past the Owls, 11-7, on Saturday afternoon at Skip Wilson Field.
Senior Sean Barksdale blasted a pair of home runs and knocked in four RBI to lead the offensive attack for the Owls (17-29, 11-11), extending his record-setting career RBI total to 162.
Also at the plate, freshman Taylor Juran blasted the first home run of this career, a two-run homer in the third inning. Senior Lenny DelGrippo also added a solo home run for the Cherry and White, part of his three-hit game.
Despite taking the loss, freshman Dan Moller (3-5) pitched well in defeat. He lasted 8.1 innings, allowing just four earned runs on seven hits. Sophomore Jordan Cannon allowed two earned runs in 0.2 innings of relief.
Five errors by the Cherry and White defense turned out to be the difference in the game. Only 6 of the Billikens’s 11 runs were earned runs, as SLU capitalized on the Owls’ mistakes.
Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Owls – just as they had done against Saint Louis in Friday’s game – rallied behind the long ball. DelGrippio tied the game at 4-4 with a solo shot over the right-field fence to lead off the inning. Three batters later, Barksadale connected on a two-out, two-run home run that sailed well over the left-field wall, giving the Owls a 6-4 lead.
But the Owls could not hang to the ninth-inning lead. Following a lead-off walk to start the inning. SLU’s Cody Cotter reached base when Carmen Del Mastro committed a throwing error trying to turn a double play – the Owls’ fourth of the game - putting two runners in scoring position with no outs.
The Billikens (25-25, 11-12) wasted no time making the Owls pay for the mistake, as the next batter - SLU’s Ryan Bennett - singled up the middle, tying the game 6-6. The hits kept coming for the Billikens, as they connected on four consecutive singles off reliever Cannon to extend the lead to 9-6. Following two more hits and another Temple error, the Billikens added two more runs to bring the score to the 11-6 final.
Marco Mejia picked up the victory for Saint Louis, tossing 2.1 innings in relief of starter Bryant Cotton. Mejia and Cotton combined for six strikeouts on the day.
Junior Tony Jusino added two hits for the Owls, including a double. Senior Jamie Abercrombie also added two hits, while Del Mastro added a single for the Cherry and White.
For Saint Louis, Bennett lead the way with three hits, two RBI and three stolen bases.
The Owls will conclude the 2009 home campaign and celebrate their eight seniors when they finish the series with Saint Louis tomorrow at noon.
Note: The game time has been changed from 1:00 p.m. to noon. The Senior Day ceremony will take place prior to the game.
