Baseball Endures 4-1 Setback To St. Joe's in Liberty Bell Classic First Round Game

Tuesday, March 27

Ambler, Pa.

3:00 p.m.

Temple University

10-15

Saint Joseph's

7-18

Saint Joseph's

Temple

Eric Peterson tied his season-high with 6.0 IP in his first career start.

Photo by: Mitchell Leff

Baseball Endures 4-1 Setback To St. Joe's in Liberty Bell Classic First Round Game

3.27.12 | Baseball

Box Score

Box Score | Photo Gallery

AMBLER – Freshman Eric Peterson had a solid first career start, but earned a no decision, as the Owls fell to the Saint Joseph's Hawks, 4-1 at Skip Wilson Field on Tuesday in the first round of the 20th Annual Liberty Bell Classic.

Peterson tied his season-high with 6.0 innings of work, in which he allowed an unearned run on four hits while striking out three SJU hitters. Senior Brant Norlander surrendered the game-winning run for the Hawks when he came in to pitch the seventh inning, tabbing him with the loss. St. Joe's' Mike Muha earned the win and Kevin Burum picked up the save.

Temple falls to 10-15 on the year and will play Lehigh in the consolation round of the Liberty Bell Classic when it resumes Tuesday, April 3. Saint Joseph's (7-18) wins its first road game of the season before beginning Atlantic 10 Conference play this weekend and will move on to play Delaware in the second round of the Liberty Bell Classic for a chance to play at Citizens Bank Park on April 10.

St. Joe's knocked first. Ryan Pater reached base on a throwing error from Peterson to redshirt junior first baseman Matt Elko. Pater went on to steal scored base before coming home on Stefan Kancylarz's one out double in the first inning.

The first inning run would be all SJU would manage to get off of Peterson.

The rookie right-hander from Bear, Delaware was having his day after his twin brother, Pat, nearly tossed a no-hitter on Saturday. Peterson gave up just three hits the rest of the game after giving up the double that scored Pater. In the final three innings he pitched, Peterson kept the base paths clear in the fourth and fifth innings—having a pair of 1-2-3 innings. Kevin Taylor would work for a walk in the sixth, but back-to-back groundouts would leave him stranded at second base.

When Peterson made his exit after the sixth inning, the Owls made their case at getting their pitcher the win after having an outstanding performance.

With one out and Jordan Queja at third base and redshirt senior Steve Nikorak at first, Elko flied deep enough into right field for Queja to march home to tie the ballgame at one, which kept Peterson from being hit with the loss.

St. Joe's' starter Daniel Thorpe had an impressive afternoon as well. Despite pitching only 4.0 innings, the sophomore right-hander allowed only two hits.

The Hawks went on to score a run in each of the next three innings—one of each TU reliever (Norlander, Adam Dian and Steve Visnic).

Visnic's earned run was only the third he's been hit with through his staff-most 13 appearances. Before today, Visnic hadn't allowed a run in his last five appearances and had only given up one in his previous 10.

Temple gets back to work this weekend during its A-10 bye weekend when it head to Monmouth Friday for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch with the Hawks at Kessler Field. The Owls and Hawks will play at Monmouth again Saturday at 1:00 p.m. before shifting the rubber match to Skip Wilson Field on Sunday at Noon.