WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University baseball team fell to Temple University, 5-3, Friday afternoon in non-conference action at MU Baseball Field. Junior Pat Light (Colts Neck, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy), who retired 13-straight batters from the second to the sixth inning, struck out five in his first loss since February.
Temple's (11-15) closer Brian Susternic worked into trouble, loading the bases with two outs in the ninth. Steve Wilgus (Woolwich, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) and Jon Guida (Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater Raritan) earned back-to-back walks and Chris Perret (Morris Plains, N.J./Morris Catholic) was plunked by a pitch, but Susternic got Kyle Perry (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) to strike out swinging secure the 5-3 victory.
Jabair Khan stole third and scored the first run of the game on a throwing error by Perry to give the Owls a 1-0 lead in the second.
Guida singled to start the ensuing half inning and moved to second on Josh Boyd's (Port Murray, N.J./West Morris Central) sacrifice bunt. Guida advanced to third on Perry's single and came around to touch home as Ed Martin (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan [Brookdale CC]) reached on an error.
Jake Gronsky (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) blasted his second career home run to give the Blue and White a 2-1 lead in the fifth.
Light issued his first walked in 15 innings to lead off the seventh and it proved to be costly as Connor Reilly roped a two-run single and Khan connected on a RBI triple to give Temple a 4-2 lead. Foster Dunigan reached on an error which plated Khan to push the Owls advantage to 5-2.
Tim Bickford (Wallingford, Conn./Mark T. Sheehan) singled with one out in the home half of the seventh. Danny Avella (Matawan, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) followed with a base hit and Owen Stewart (Howell, N.J./St. Rose) loaded the bases on a single and Guida brought in Bickford on a sacrifice fly to cut the Owls lead to 5-3.
Rookie Adam Yunginger (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township), Joe Loiodice (Forest Hill, Md./John Carroll), Neil Harm (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) and Charlie Battis (Hamilton, N.J./Notre Dame) combined to work 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, surrendering one hit.
Due to the weather forecast, tomorrow's scheduled game has been postponed and will made-up at a later date. The Hawks and Owls will play Sunday at 1 p.m. in Philadelphia.
