Owls Drop Series To St. Bonaventure In Devastating Fashion; Losing 9-8 In 11 Innings

Saturday, May 12

Olean, N.Y.

Noon

Temple University

19-31, 7-14

St. Bonaventure

20-23, 8-13

Temple

St. Bonaventure

Photo by: Mitchell Leff

Owls Drop Series To St. Bonaventure In Devastating Fashion; Losing 9-8 In 11 Innings

5.12.12 | Baseball

Box Score

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Playing out the final game of the weekend series with the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at Frank Handler Park on Saturday afternoon, the Owls lost in devastating fashion as they watched their two-run 11th inning lead disintegrate as the Bonnies rallied back with three runs in their half of the frame to claim the 9-8 win over the Owls on their senior day.

No lead was safe in this one for either team. The Owls lead by two runs at two different times early on, taking 2-0 lead in the first inning and then regaining the advantage with a two spot in the fifth, to go up 4-2. After narrowing the deficit to a single run in the sixth inning, the Bonnies stampeded back with three runs in the seventh to go up 6-4, but Temple found a way back as it tied the ballgame with two runs in the eighth to tie the score and to force extra innings.

Temple's bats did some damage in the 11th and it looked as if it was on to its third straight A-10 series win for the first time since 2001.
Yarborough delivered with a one-out RBI double to score junior Allen Stiles and Queja, making it an 8-6 Owls' lead.

Getting a strikeout and then giving up a hit to Mike Grieco in the bottom half of the 11th, would mark the end of Peterson's relief outing for his brother while still being in line for the win.

With senior Brian Sustersic in the game and Grieco already on base, Sustersic threw a wild pitch to move the runner into scoring position. With the game-tying run at the plate Austin Ingraham greeted Sustersic with a two-run bomb to even the game at eight.

From that point on, nothing went right for the Owls and the disaster set in. Unable to come up with an out for the rest of the inning, Sustersic gave up a single to Justin Brozick, hit a batter and then served up Eric Jutca's game-winning RBI double to give the Bonnies the rubber match walk-off.

Redshirt junior Matt Elko continued to tear St. Bonaventure pitching apart, as he went 3-for-4 for the second time in the series and finished the weekend set with eight hits and eight RBI. Like in each of the first two games, Elko had a bases-clearing extra base hit, as she slugged a two-out RBI double with redshirt senior Steve Nikorak and senior Foster Dunigan already on the basepaths, allowing them to score for the Owls' early lead.

After the Bonnies moved within a run during their first inning at bat, Owls' starter freshman left-hander Patrick Peterson cruised through the next two innings, but two hits by Austin Ingraham and Nick Brennen helped the St. Bonaventure deadlock the game at two in the fourth inning.

The Owls wasted no time recouping their lead, as Nikorak added another two-bagger to the school's all-time doubles record, on a pitch he smacked into center field, allowing juniors Jordan Queja and Elijah Yarborough to cross the plate and put Temple up, 4-2.

Once again only trailing a run, the Bonnie had life. This time in the seventh inning, they took advantage of defensive mishaps by senior Jabair Khan and freshman Nick Lustrino, working Peterson for three unearned runs in the frame to take an 6-4 lead, capped off by Jason Radwan's RBI triple.

Again, Temple retaliated. Dunigan, Elko and senior catcher Taylor Juran all pounded out singles to get the offense going in the eighth inning. Juran's base knock into left field, allowe dDunigan to score and bring the Owls back within a run before Khan came up with the big hit, as he doubled to center field to get Elko across the dish to even the score once again.

Peterson left the game and was relieved be by his twin brother Eric Peterson going into the bottom of the eighth. The starting Peterson had another strong outing, last 7.0 innings and striking out seven St, Bonaventure hitters.

In extra innings, the Owls were threatening in the 10th, having Nikorak and Elko in scoring position, but a fielder's choice ended the inning and the opportunity to go ahead.

Peterson held the Bonnies at bay in the 10th, After serving up a single to Michael Meredith and then intentionally walking Radwan, he was able to get Billy Urban to ground out of the inning.

Temple (19-31, 7-14) has just one A-10 series weekend remaining, as it will host Rhode Island, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Skip Wilson Field. Before coming home for the final series of the 2012 season, the Owls will make a midweek trip to Lawrenceville, N.J. for a non-conference affair with the Rider Broncs.