April 16, 2003

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Navy baseball team dropped a 17-8 slugfest to the Temple Owls Wednesday at Erny Field in a game that featured a combined eight home runs by both teams.

Craig Candeto gave Navy an early 1-0 advantage with a leadoff solo homer to left center, his second of the season, off Temple starting pitcher Brian Ursone.

Temple (12-15) came back in the second inning with three unearned runs off Navy starting hurler Zach Poelma thanks to back-to-back fielding errors by the Mids to open the frame. Al Roach scored on a sacrifice fly and Pete Colon's two-run homer to right, his third of the season, plated Jason Connor.

In the fourth, the Owls built a 6-1 lead on John Quigley's three-run round-tripper to left center off Poelma.

However, the Mids came back in the fifth with a two-out Candeto grand slam off Ursone to pull within one. With two outs, Ursone proceeded to walk the bases loaded. On a 1-1 count, Candeto hit a rocket over the left field fence to make it 6-5.

Temple plated three more runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by Roach's two-run homer off relief pitcher Mitch Eliason to make it 9-5.

Navy (13-17) came back with three of its own in the sixth, all courtesy of home runs, to close to within one.

Dean Farmer belted his second homer with two outs off Chris Hamilton. After a base hit to left by Brad Hager, Matt Lukevics stepped up with a two-run bolt down the left field line.

Temple answered with two more runs on a Roach solo homer and a sacrifice fly by Fred Hilliard.

The Owls put up a six spot on Navy relief pitcher Jake Miller in the seventh to take a 17-8 lead. Poelma dropped to 1-1 with the loss, while Temple reliever Tim Brown improved to 1-0 overall.

Roach led the Owls with two home runs and four runs scored, while Connor was 3-for-4 with two doubles and four runs scored. Farmer had two hits for the Mids.

Navy returns to the diamond Saturday at 12 noon when the Mids play host to Lafayette in a doubleheader at Max Bishop Stadium.