In the bottom of the ninth inning, Temple’s (2-7) losing streak continued as the baseball team dropped its fifth straight game in a 6-5 loss to the University of North Carolina Asheville (5-9).
Despite leading the Bulldogs by a score of 5-1 in the top of the seventh inning, the Owls saw their lead vanish as UNC Asheville rallied to score five runs in the final three innings in the win.
Following a scoreless first inning, it was the Owls who got on the scoreboard first with a fielder’s choice from senior second baseman Jordan Queja scoring freshman catcher Michael D’Acunti, giving Temple the 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third inning, Temple added another run as redshirt-sophomore right-fielder Connor Reilly flied out to right field, scoring senior third baseman Henry Knabe who reached on a leadoff single. At the end of the third inning the Owls lead the Bulldogs 3-0.
One inning later in the top of the fourth inning, Temple added extended its lead to 4-0 over UNC Asheville with a Knabe single to right field, which scored senior left-fielder Allen Stiles.
In the bottom of the fifth inning the Bulldogs scored their first run of the day off of Patrick Peterson with a fielder’s choice from redshirt-sophomore second baseman Kyle Towles scoring junior shortstop Eli Miller. Patrick Peterson left the game with a 4-1 lead over UNC Asheville after the bottom of the fifth inning.
Patrick Peterson finished the day with five innings pitched, three hits, one run, four strikeouts and three walks. He was replaced in the bottom of the sixth inning by red shirt-sophomore pitcher Zach White.
Entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Owls held a 5-1 lead, a lead Temple would soon see disappear. Two Bulldog singles along with a two-run RBI double from junior pitcher Tommy Houmard headlined the four run bottom of the seventh for UNC Asheville, tying the game at 5-5.
In the bottom of the ninth, a hit by pitch, a wild pitch, a walk and a walk off error by D’Acunti scored senior designated hitter Billy Creighton and the game winning run, giving UNC Asheville the 6-5 win.
Players and coaches were not made available immediately after the game for comment.
The Owls will have their second chance to grab a win against the Bulldogs on Saturday, March 9, as they faceoff at 2 p.m. in Asheville, N.C.
John Murrow can be reached at john.murrow@temple.edu or Twitter @JohnMurrow12.
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