Temple University Athletics
Friday, March 8
Asheville, NC
3:00 p.m.
Temple University
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UNC Asheville
Four-Run Lead Vanishes In 6-5 Walkoff Loss To UNC Asheville
3.8.13 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Temple Baseball suffered a heartbreaking, 6-5, defeat on Friday afternoon in their weekend series opening game at UNC Asheville. With the bases loaded and two already gone in the bottom of the ninth for the home team, the Bulldogs executed a trick play to win them the game in dramtatic fashion at Greenwood Field.
Asheville's Justin Woods took a large lead off second base and then slipped to the ground to draw sophomore Eric Peterson off the mound. Stepping off the rubber, Peterson was going to throw to second but checked the runner at third. Peterson faked a throw to sophomore shortstop Nick Lustrino and Asheville's Billy Creighton left third base and darted for home. Trying to end the inning and keep the ballgame tied, Peterson threw home to freshman Michael D'Acunti, who couldn't maintain grip of the ball when he tried to tag Creighton in his pursuit of the walkoff game-winning run.
Junior Derek Peterson had the Owls feeling comfortable late after he smashed his second home run of the season in the top of the seventh inning, which put them up 5-1 just before the Bulldogs rallied.
Getting the nod to start the weekend series for the Owls on the mound, sophomore lefthander Patrick Peterson pitched outstanding for his team. Playing with a stomach flu, Peterson proved to be unaffected by the illness as he went on to throw a solid five innings of work, in which he allowed just one run on three hits.
The nation's leader in on base percentage continued his consistency on Friday afternoon right away. Batting out of the No. 2 spot in head coach Ryan Wheeler's lineup, Lustrino extended his hitting streak to nine straight games to start the season when he pounded out a single in the top of the first inning, but then was held 0-for-4 for the rest of the ballgame. Also reaching base every game so far this season entering the Owls' battle with Asheville, senior Jordan Queja extended his on base streak to nine straight when he lined a double down the right field line in the sixth inning. Queja's hit pushed freshman Jimmy Kerrigan to third, who scored when Lustrino grounded into a fielder's choice.
Redshirt sophomore Zach White took over on the hill for the Owls when the sixth inning started and looked to keep the win intact for Patrick Peterson. White got Temple through his first inning of relief work, but when he returned for the seventh, it would be the start of Asheville's comeback. The Bulldogs worked back-to-back walks off White to lead off the inning and then eventually loaded the bases, causing Wheeler to his bullpen. Sophomore Adam Dian came on to try and get the Owls out of the jam, but instead served up a double to his first hitter to slim the TU lead down to two runs. Facing Hunter Bryant in the very next at bat, while the Bulldogs had two runners in scoring position, Dian let up a bases clearing two-run RBI single to deadlock the game at five.
After the Owls went down in their half of the ninth, redshirt senior Steve Visnic remained in the game after getting his team through the eighth inning. With one out and the game tied at five, Visnic was replaced after walking his second batter in the inning. Eric Peterson, who is Saturday's scheduled starter, came on to try and force the game into suspension. Peterson was able to get Andrew Kirkland out at home plate when Todd Joyner grounded into the fielder's choice. The Owls stood one out away from getting out of the inning before Asheville tricked Peterson to walk-off with the 6-5 win.
The bulk of the offense came off the bat of cleanup hitter Henry Knabe, who went 3-for-4. Redshirt sophomore Connor Reilly and senior Allen Stiles also had multiple hits for the Owls, both having two on the day.
Temple drops its fifth straight game with the loss on Friday, making the team 2-7 on the year. The Owls will look to even the series with the Bulldogs on Saturday when both teams return to Greenwood Field for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch. Even though he pitched the final 0.1 of Friday's game, Eric Peterson will still get his first start of the season on Saturday.
Asheville's Justin Woods took a large lead off second base and then slipped to the ground to draw sophomore Eric Peterson off the mound. Stepping off the rubber, Peterson was going to throw to second but checked the runner at third. Peterson faked a throw to sophomore shortstop Nick Lustrino and Asheville's Billy Creighton left third base and darted for home. Trying to end the inning and keep the ballgame tied, Peterson threw home to freshman Michael D'Acunti, who couldn't maintain grip of the ball when he tried to tag Creighton in his pursuit of the walkoff game-winning run.
Junior Derek Peterson had the Owls feeling comfortable late after he smashed his second home run of the season in the top of the seventh inning, which put them up 5-1 just before the Bulldogs rallied.
Getting the nod to start the weekend series for the Owls on the mound, sophomore lefthander Patrick Peterson pitched outstanding for his team. Playing with a stomach flu, Peterson proved to be unaffected by the illness as he went on to throw a solid five innings of work, in which he allowed just one run on three hits.
The nation's leader in on base percentage continued his consistency on Friday afternoon right away. Batting out of the No. 2 spot in head coach Ryan Wheeler's lineup, Lustrino extended his hitting streak to nine straight games to start the season when he pounded out a single in the top of the first inning, but then was held 0-for-4 for the rest of the ballgame. Also reaching base every game so far this season entering the Owls' battle with Asheville, senior Jordan Queja extended his on base streak to nine straight when he lined a double down the right field line in the sixth inning. Queja's hit pushed freshman Jimmy Kerrigan to third, who scored when Lustrino grounded into a fielder's choice.
Redshirt sophomore Zach White took over on the hill for the Owls when the sixth inning started and looked to keep the win intact for Patrick Peterson. White got Temple through his first inning of relief work, but when he returned for the seventh, it would be the start of Asheville's comeback. The Bulldogs worked back-to-back walks off White to lead off the inning and then eventually loaded the bases, causing Wheeler to his bullpen. Sophomore Adam Dian came on to try and get the Owls out of the jam, but instead served up a double to his first hitter to slim the TU lead down to two runs. Facing Hunter Bryant in the very next at bat, while the Bulldogs had two runners in scoring position, Dian let up a bases clearing two-run RBI single to deadlock the game at five.
After the Owls went down in their half of the ninth, redshirt senior Steve Visnic remained in the game after getting his team through the eighth inning. With one out and the game tied at five, Visnic was replaced after walking his second batter in the inning. Eric Peterson, who is Saturday's scheduled starter, came on to try and force the game into suspension. Peterson was able to get Andrew Kirkland out at home plate when Todd Joyner grounded into the fielder's choice. The Owls stood one out away from getting out of the inning before Asheville tricked Peterson to walk-off with the 6-5 win.
The bulk of the offense came off the bat of cleanup hitter Henry Knabe, who went 3-for-4. Redshirt sophomore Connor Reilly and senior Allen Stiles also had multiple hits for the Owls, both having two on the day.
Temple drops its fifth straight game with the loss on Friday, making the team 2-7 on the year. The Owls will look to even the series with the Bulldogs on Saturday when both teams return to Greenwood Field for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch. Even though he pitched the final 0.1 of Friday's game, Eric Peterson will still get his first start of the season on Saturday.
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