Baseball Beats Big Five Foe Villanova 7-3

Saturday, March 8

Philadelphia, Pa. - John W. Smithson Field

2:45 p.m.

Temple University

3-7

Villanova University

3-10

Temple University

Villanova University

Photo by: Mitchell Leff

Baseball Beats Big Five Foe Villanova 7-3

3.8.14 | Baseball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – Temple baseball (3-7) defeated Villanova (4-10) in game four of the Big Five Baseball Bash at Smithson Field on Saturday afternoon 7-3 to win their second game in the tournament. The Owls used four runs in the seventh inning with the game tied 3-3 to win the game.

"This was the first tight game we've played this season." Head coach Ryan Wheeler said. "I told our guys afterwards that we didn't panic and responded well in that situation."

Temple scored its first run in the top of the first inning. Reyn Sugai was hit by a pitch to start a game. With one out, Derek Peterson doubled to move Sugai to third. Rob Amaro grounded out to third but scored Sugai on the play for the RBI.

The Owls added another run in the second. Jimmy Kerrigan led off the inning with a single. He advanced to second on a hit and run with Michael D'Acunti grounding out to the pitcher. Kerrigan stole third and scored off a David Hall single to left field.

Villanova cut the lead down to one in the bottom of the second inning with two batters being hit by pitches and two infield singles.
Temple got their lead back to two in the fourth inning. With one out, D'Acunti singled to left center. D'Acunti advanced to second on a wild pitch. Frank D'Agostino then singled to center field to knock in D'Acunti.

Villanova answered back with a run in the fourth inning and then another run in the sixth before Temple blew open the game with four runs in the eighth inning.

With one out, Daniel Dragos singled to right center. Peterson then doubled down the right field line to score Peterson. Amaro singled through the left side of the infield to move Peterson to third. D'Acunti hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Peterson and advance Amaro to second. Kerrigan was then intentionally walked, and Frank D'Agostino was hit by a pitch in his first at bat. With the bases loaded, Hall singled to score Amaro and Kerrigan.

"We've done a very good job with our bats these past two days," Wheeler said. "We got some clutch hits today. I like the lineup we've had, and that's starting to come together. Our guys are starting to gain some confidence."

Ryan Keuhn came in the ninth inning to end the game and allowed zero hits with two strikeouts to insure the Owls' win.

Preston Hill started the game and went five and one-thirds innings, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned) with three strikeouts. Connor
Stasky came in the sixth to relieve Hill and lasted one full inning. Zach Batchelor came in for Stasky with one out in the seventh and earned the win. Batchelor pitched one and two-thirds innings while allowing two hits with no runs and striking out two Wildcats hitters.

"We felt Preston Hill matched up better against Villanova as he usually starts Sundays for us," Wheeler said. "We didn't even tell him until a few hours before the game, and he did a good job today. (Zach) Batchelor has been throwing the ball well for us so far this season. So I knew if we had a lead or it was tied, I could turn the ball over to him and he could slam the door on Villanova. It was great to get Keuhn some work in a non-pressure situation and get his feet under him with only three appearances so far this season."

Temple will look to be the outright champions of the Big Five Baseball Bash with a win over host Saint Joseph's tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. The Hawks lost to Villanova on Friday and beat Niagara 8-0 today.