In the final game as the visiting team for the Owls in 2013, Temple (18-25, 7-14 Atlantic 10 Conference) dropped its second game of the three-game conference series to Richmond (28-17, 11-7 A-10) in extra innings by a score of 4-3.
While both teams put up a three-run inning in the contest, it was the Spiders that edged the Owls in the bottom of the tenth inning as a game-ending error with the bases loaded allowed Richmond to earn its 11th conference win of the season.
Following a 1-2-3 top of the first for the Owls, the Spiders jumped on redshirt-senior starting pitcher Dan Moller in the bottom half of the first. Richmond scored three runs on three hits headlined by a single from redshirt-senior first baseman Bret Williams scoring two runs. At the end of the first inning, Richmond led Temple 3-0.
Trailing by three runs, Moller settled in against a difficult Spiders’ lineup. The left-handed pitcher finished the afternoon with 3.0 innings pitched allowing three runs on six hits while adding three walks and two strikeouts.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Owls were able to add a three-run inning of their own. Two doubles in the inning from senior left fielder Allen Stiles and senior third baseman Henry Knabe headlined the inning in which the Owls tied the game 3-3.
After the top of the fourth inning, the Owls and Spiders were locked in a pitching duel. Richmond senior pitcher Jacob Mayers finished his day on a strong note as he kept the Owls’ bats quiet. The right-handed pitcher ended his afternoon with 7.1 innings pitched allowing three runs on four hits while recording one walk and five strikeouts. Junior pitcher Andrew Brockett replaced Mayers in the top of the eighth.
The Owls kept the Spiders quiet with junior pitcher Matt Hockenberry and freshman pitcher Tim McCarthy on the mound to complete nine innings of play. With the score tied 3-3 at the end of the bottom of the ninth, the game entered extra innings.
Following two strikeouts and a groundout for Temple in the top of the tenth, Richmond was able to load the bases in the bottom of the tenth with redshirt-junior pitcher Ryan Kuehn on the mound. With one out in the inning, sophomore pinch hitter Joey Vecchione sent a groundball to second base which was mishandled by Owls’ senior second baseman Elijah Yarborough allowing freshman right fielder Tanner Stanley to score the game-winning run.
McCarthy earned his second loss of the season on Sunday while Brockett earned his third win of the season for the Spiders. Brockett finished with 2.2 innings pitched allowing no runs and two hits while adding three strikeouts.
Three of Temple’s six hits on the afternoon came on doubles from Stiles, Knabe and freshman catcher Michael D’Acunti, but the Owls were out-hit 10-6 by Richmond on Saturday.
With the loss, the Owls dropped their second game of the three-game series after falling 6-1 to the Spiders on Friday. Temple has lost its third consecutive conference series with the loss on Sunday and falls to 1-6 in conference series overall this season.
The Owls will be back in action at Skip Wilson Field on Wednesday, May 8 when they host Rider for a one-game matchup at 3:00 p.m. Following the nonconference matchup, Temple will host Massachusetts for a three-game series from May 17-19.
John Murrow can be reached at john.murrow@temple.edu or Twitter @JohnMurrow12.
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