April 27, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The game got wild late with 15 runs scored in an inning but the Billikens' six-run rally fell short in a 12-10 loss at Temple in Atlantic 10 baseball action this afternoon at Skip Wilson Field. SLU leapt out to an early 4-0 lead before the Owls plated 12 unanswered runs. The Billikens responded with a six-run eighth inning sparked by a two-run double by Ryan Crespi and aided by a hit batter and three bases-loaded walks.

The SLU offense was on fire early as Crespi led off the game with a single to center and scored on Tom Pinnell's double own the left field line. Casey Moore traded places with Pinnell with an RBI double to left. After Temple starter Tom Dolan recorded the first out, Bill Musselman kept things going with a double to left center to make it a 3-0 margin. Blake Bratcher drew a walk, and Musselman scored when a double steal prompted an error from the Owls' catcher, allowing Musselman to cross the plate for a 4-0 lead.

SLU starter Brock Hewitt worked around a double and a walk in the bottom of the inning and kept the Owls off the board until the bottom of the third. A leadoff single from Kyle Obal started a three-run frame. Carmen Del Mastro beat out an infield single, moving Obal into scoring position for Stan Orzechowski's double down the left field line. Hewitt prompted Ryan Weber to pop up for the first out, but TU leading hitter Sean Barksdale cut the Billiken lead to one run with a two-run triple to left center.

With their lead trimmed, the Billiken offense was suddenly stymied by Dolan and left three runners on base over the next four innings. The Owls, on the other hand, carried the momentum into the bottom of the seventh. Del Mastro laid down a bunt single, and Orzechowski ran out a single to deep short. Weber sacrificed the runners over, and the Billikens intentionally walked Barksdale to load the bases for Dan Brady, who worked a walk to drive in the tying run. Mike Kelch put the Owls on top with a single to center, which also sent SLU to the bullpen for Eric Brewer closed out the inning with a pop up from Weber.

The Billikens looked to strike back immediate with Bratcher working a walk to lead off the inning. B.J. Rodrigue slapped a single through the right side, and J.D. Dunn's fly ball to right put runners on the corners. When the Billikens went to pinch hitter Ryan Johnson, the Owls turned to the bullpen with Mike Click replacing Dolan. Johnson drew a walk to load the bases for Crespi. The senior center field drove a double down the left field line to plate Bratcher and Rodrigue. Pinnell legged out an infield single to load the bases for Moore. Click hit the Billiken third baseman with a pitch to plate pinch runner Ryan Bennett. Another call to the bullpen brought Lenny DelGrippo to the mound, but the sophomore right-hander walked the next three hitters he faced to pull the Billikens within 12-10. Weber then took the mound for the Owls and got Rodrigue to ground into a double play to preserve the lead.

Pitching took over in each team's final at-bat as Weber collected his third save of the season and Dolan improved to 5-4 on the season. Hewitt took the loss for SLU, falling to 0-8 on the year. Seven of the Billikens' nine hitters recorded at least one RBI in the outing with Crespi, Moore and Musselman each plating two runs. Abercrombie's three RBI were a game high as were Pinnell's three hits.

The teams are set to meet again on Sat., April 28, at noon (CT).