Throughout Penn baseball coach Bob Seddon's 25-year reign in the Quakers' dugout, Temple has always been a nemesis. Seddon remembers plenty of painful losses for his teams in games the Quakers felt they should have won. After Penn scored six runs in the bottom of the first to take a commanding lead yesterday at Bower Field, Seddon thought his troubles with the Owls might be coming to an end. In fact, they were only just beginning. The Quakers blew leads of 6-0 and 7-1 en route to the 12-8 loss. Penn even carried an 8-6 advantage into the top of the ninth inning, but that was not enough to hold off the charging Owls. "The most distressing thing is that we scored six runs in the first inning and then we just stopped playing," Seddon said. "I hate losing to them. We've just pissed away so many games." This one slipped out of the hands of the bullpen. Penn batted around in its half of the first inning to give Alex Hayden a 6-0 lead and knock Owls starter Doug Bossert out of the game. Hayden continued his recent success with five solid innings of work. When southpaw Mike Greenwood relieved Hayden in the top of the sixth, the Quakers lead stood at a comfortable 7-1. Hayden's success was keyed by his ability to mix pitches well and keep the ball down in the strike zone, something his successors were unable to do. Greenwood gave up two runs in the sixth on a pair of doubles and an RBI single by Owl Rich Swavely. Greenwood let the first two runners on in the top of the seventh as well before a successful sacrifice bunt moved the duo into scoring position sent Greenwood to the showers. At this critical juncture, with Owls leading hitter Tom Whalen coming to the plate, Seddon was forced to make a decision he would have preferred not to have to make. Because it was a mid-week game and several pitchers were being used as position players, there was a lack of depth in the bullpen. Seddon gambled by bringing closer Mike Martin into the game earlier than usual. The move backfired. Whalen laced a double to left, scoring two runs and bringing the Owls within 7-5. Even though Penn's submarine-baller retired Temple's next two batters, his troubles did not end. The teams traded single runs over the next inning and a half, setting the stage for a fateful ninth inning. After a seeing-eye single, Whalen singled through the left side and Rod Schenk laced a double off the base of the wall in left-center. Martin was showing signs of fatigue -- his pitches staying up in the strike zone, his fastball lacking its usual pop. With Temple down 8-7 and runners at second and third with nobody out, Swavely rolled one down the third-base line, sealing the Quakers' fate and continuing Seddon's frustration. It also signaled the end of Martin. "I pitched a terrible game," Martin said. "My job is to come in and close the game and I just didn't do it. They hit everything I got up in the strike zone. Whenever I made a mistake, they hurt me." "I didn't think Martin had it when he came in," Seddon said. "His balls weren't biting down. We just fell apart. The relief pitching was not good. It failed us." With A B Fischer replacing Martin, a comedy of bloopers, errors and more hits extended Temple's lead to 12-8, where it stayed for good. Yesterday afternoon had no bearing on the race for the Ivy League's Gehrig Division title, which Penn can clinch with a split in next weekend's four-game set against Columbia. But for Bob Seddon, it represents another frustrating chapter in the history of Penn-Temple baseball.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.
