Temple University Athletics
Mongiardini takes the mound for the Owls tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Baseball Opens Season Tonight Against Florida Gulf Coast
2.19.10 | Baseball
First pitch set for 6:30 p.m.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Temple baseball team will begin its 83rd season of varsity competition when it takes on Florida Gulf Coast, ranked #38 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, at 6:30 p.m. in Fort Myers, Fla. Live stats are available all weekend by clicking here.
Returning after missing last season due to injury, redshirt-senior Matt Mongiardini takes the mound against the Eagles in tonight's opener. The team co-captain and 2008 All-Big 5 pick will try to give the TU its first opening day win since beating Detroit Mercy, 9-8, on March 4, 2004.
Sophomore Dan Moller (3-6, 6.62 ERA) will start on Saturday, with action beginning at 1:00 p.m. On Sunday, junior Ben White (3-6, 49 K) gets the nod with game time again slated for 1:00 p.m.
The trip marks the third-straight season the Owls have traveled to the Sunshine State to open the season. Last February, Temple went 2-1 in the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament to open the 2009 campaign.
Scouting Florida Gulf Coast
The Eagles are in their first year of competition as a legitimate Division I competitor, and will be eligible to win the Atlantic Sun's automatic NCAA bid this season. FGCU has high expectations that they will earn that bid, as they have taken the A-Sun title the last two seasons.
Florida Gulf Coast is led by the conference preseason player of the year Zach Maxfield and preseason pitcher of the year Chris Sale. Sale, a southpaw, gets the 6:30 pm. Friday start at Swanson Stadium with a great deal of pressure on his shoulders. The junior ranks as one of the top pitchers in the country and earned preseason All-American honors from several new outlets and earned the conference preseason pitcher of the year honor in a unanimous vote.
Series History
In the first ever meeting between the two teams last season, the Owls won in dramatic fashion 5-3 in 11 innings.
Returning after missing last season due to injury, redshirt-senior Matt Mongiardini takes the mound against the Eagles in tonight's opener. The team co-captain and 2008 All-Big 5 pick will try to give the TU its first opening day win since beating Detroit Mercy, 9-8, on March 4, 2004.
Sophomore Dan Moller (3-6, 6.62 ERA) will start on Saturday, with action beginning at 1:00 p.m. On Sunday, junior Ben White (3-6, 49 K) gets the nod with game time again slated for 1:00 p.m.
The trip marks the third-straight season the Owls have traveled to the Sunshine State to open the season. Last February, Temple went 2-1 in the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament to open the 2009 campaign.
Scouting Florida Gulf Coast
The Eagles are in their first year of competition as a legitimate Division I competitor, and will be eligible to win the Atlantic Sun's automatic NCAA bid this season. FGCU has high expectations that they will earn that bid, as they have taken the A-Sun title the last two seasons.
Florida Gulf Coast is led by the conference preseason player of the year Zach Maxfield and preseason pitcher of the year Chris Sale. Sale, a southpaw, gets the 6:30 pm. Friday start at Swanson Stadium with a great deal of pressure on his shoulders. The junior ranks as one of the top pitchers in the country and earned preseason All-American honors from several new outlets and earned the conference preseason pitcher of the year honor in a unanimous vote.
Series History
In the first ever meeting between the two teams last season, the Owls won in dramatic fashion 5-3 in 11 innings.
Ep. 29: Last Episode of First Semester from David & Amelia
Wednesday, December 17
MBB Press Conference vs. Saint Francis (Adam Fisher)
Sunday, December 14
MBB Press Conference vs. Saint Francis (Derrian Ford & Gavin Griffiths)
Sunday, December 14
Ep. 28: Vice President/Debbie & Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson
Friday, December 12
