NEWARK, DE -- Temple University scored 14 runs in the sixth through eighth innings to turn a 5-4 deficit into an 18-7 win over the University of Delaware in the first round of the Liberty Bell Classic at Bob Hannah Stadium.

The Hens committed five errors leading to six unearned runs. Mike Kelch had three hits for the Owls (7-13), while Ryan Engelhardt (right) had two hits and a home run for the Blue Hens (4-13).

Delaware took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Brandon Menchaca worked a one-out walk, Alex Buchholz doubled, and Menchaca scored and Buchholz moved to third when the ball was misplayed by Temple centerfielder Stan Orzechowski. Bryan Hagerich followed with a sacrifice fly to score Buchholz, and after Scott Shockley singled and Bill Merkler walked, the day was finished for Owl starter Mike Click.

Temple tied the score in the top of the second with back to back doubles to lead off the inning and a two-out single down the leftfield line by Kyle Obal. Delaware took the lead back in the bottom of the second when they loaded the bases with no outs. However, Owls reliever Ryan Thomas got Menchaca to ground into a double play that brought home pinch runner Danny Overcash. Thomas then retired Buchholz on a foul out to first to end the Blue Hen threat.

Temple tied the game again in the top of the third with a two-out rally that saw the Owls piece together two base hits around a walk to bring in Ryan Weber with the tying run. The Hens retook the lead in their half of the third third with a two-out rally of their own. After Bill Merkler was hit by a pitch, Ryan Engelhardt launched Thomas’ next pitch over the wall in left for his first home run of the season and a 5-3 Delaware lead.

Delaware got two hits and two walks in the bottom of the fourth but did not score, as both Kyle Davis and Ryan Jablonski followed singles by getting picked off first by Richie Gargel.

Temple scored six runs to take the lead in the sixth inning. Devon Swope led off with a home run to left off of Ozog, and after an error and a hit batsmen put runners on the corners with one out, Orzechowski’s double to leftcenter brought home Matt Heltz to give the Owls their first lead of the day, 6-5. The Owls would add four more runs in the inning to lead 10-5.

In the seventh, the Owls scored six runs on only one hit to go up 16-5. The Owls took advantage of a hit batter, two errors, and two wild pitches in addition to their one hit, a home run by Weber, that put Temple up by 11 runs.

Eric Fritz picked up the win for the Owls to move to 1-1, while Todd Ozog took the loss for the Hens to fall to 0-3.

The Hens return to action tomorrow afternoon when they host Delaware State at 3 p.m.

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