Baseball Splits Doubleheader With GW Behind Strong Pitching; Eric Peterson's Complete Game Secures Game 1 Win

Saturday, March 30

Washington, D.C

1:00 p.m.

Temple University

10-12, 2-3

George Washington

9-17, 4-1

Temple

George Washington

Baseball Splits Doubleheader With GW Behind Strong Pitching; Eric Peterson's Complete Game Secures Game 1 Win

3.30.13 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ARLINGTON, Va. – Temple got outstanding pitching from its starters on Saturday afternoon in its doubleheader split with George Washington at Barcroft Park. Behind sophomore right-hander Eric Peterson's complete game effort, the Owls took the first game by a count of 3-1, before senior Dan Moller went a season-long seven innings of work in game two, despite being hit with the team's 1-0 loss.

GAME 1: Sophomore Eric Peterson took the ball in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader at Barcroft Park and went the distance, as he tossed his first complete game of his collegiate career behind Temple's, 3-1, victory over the George Washington Colonials. Peterson, who improved to 3-0 on the year, fanned away a career-high nine batters over his nine innings of work, while giving up six hits through the first five innings to preserve the Owls' bullpen for game two.

The Colonials figured out a way to generate offense off Temple's starter in their half of the fifth inning when Justin Albright's base hit up the middle scored Ryan Hickey. From that point, Peterson was unhittable, as he retired the final 14 batters of the game and set GW down in order in each of the last four innings.

Tempe opened the scoring in the third inning. With freshman Andrew Nist at first, the Owls got on the board when senior Jordan Queja pulled a pitch down the left field line for an RBI triple. Queja's three-bagger made it the 26th straight game in which he has reached base. He later scored to give the Owls a 2-0 lead when senior Henry Knabe rippled a base hit down the right field line.

Queja, who went 2-for-5 in the opening game, pounded out another extra-base down the left field line in the seventh inning when he doubled to send junior Bobby Heitzman home to put the Owls back up by two after GW had made it 2-1 in its half of the fifth inning.

Peterson's complete game effort is Temple's first since senior Dan Moller tossed all nine innings last season on May 4, 2012 against Dayton at Skip Wilson Field.

Temple narrowed its record to 10-12 overall and to 2-3 in Atlantic 10 Conference play before closing out the series against the Colonials in Saturday's second game.

GAME 2: Looking to follow up Peterson's outing, senior Dan Moller brought a strong effort in the second game of the twin-bill with George Washington. Moller gave his team a chance, but his offense was unable to produce, as the Owls fell 1-0 to the Colonials. The Owls' starter struck out two hitters and allowed one run on six hits.

GW's Brookes Townsend managed to swipe the only run of the day off Moller when he broke the scoreless tie in the sixth inning. Townsend smashed a pitch from the senior lefty down the left field line to score Owen Beightol from first base.

Temple threatened to match the Colonials output in the eighth inning when it had freshman Michael D'Acunt and Queja aboard for sophomore Nick Lustrino. The Owls' shortstop laid down a bunt and an overthrown ball by the catcher, allowed D'Acunti to come all the way from second to score.
It appeared as if the Owls had tied the game, but after a conference between the umpires, it was suddenly an unfortunate bizarre turn of events for the Owls.

After the dispute ended, the run was taken off the board, D'Acunti and Queja were sent back to their respective bases and Lustrino was called out for batter's interference, as he ran outside the baseline.

When the Owls took the field in the bottom of the frame, head coach Ryan Wheeler made his first pitching change of the day. Moller's impressive outing came to a close and junior Matt Hockenberry took over. Hockenberry continued the dominance by the Owls' pitching staff, as he put GW down in order.

Temple had one last chance to get itself on the board. Redshirt senior Matt Elko led off with a base hit to get the tying run on base for the Owls. After a groundout by Allen Stiles pushed Elko into scoring position, Sean Arnott was subbed in as a pinch runner. Junior David Hall pushed the tying run to within 90 feet of home plate when his hot at second base was mishandled by the fielder, setting the Owls up with runners on the corners with one out.

Freshman Jimmy Kerrigan was dealt three straight strikes to put the Owls down to their final out before D'Acunti grounded out at second on a 0-1 pitch to end the ballgame.

With the doubleheader split, the Owls fall to 10-13 on the year and now stand 2-4 in Atlantic 10 Conference play. Temple will resume play on Tuesday when it heads to Newark, Del. for its Liberty Bell Classic Semifinal matchup with the Delaware Blue Hens at 3:00 p.m.