Lions sweep Owls

By BRAD YOUNG
Collegian Sports Writer

The Temple baseball team may have been a bit more competitive in its Beaver Field doubleheader against Penn State yesterday -- had it not been for the third inning.

The Owls (1-16) were buried under two third-frame avalanches from Penn State as the Lions (6-13) swept the twin bill, winning game one, 9-0, and game two, 6-4. The two triumphs extend the Lions' winning streak to five as they enter Big Ten play against Ohio State tomorrow.

In game one, Owl starter Fran Weikel gave up three runs in the first two innings and then three more in a five-run Penn State third-inning rally before being yanked by Coach Skip Wilson.

The runs were all Penn State starting pitcher Tom Billek would need. Billek went the distance, scattering just four hits and two walks, recording the first shutout of his college career.

"He's a hard-working kid so it's wonderful he put this together today," Penn State Coach Joe Hindelang said. "He had good stuff today."

Indeed he did, keeping the Owl lineup off balance with a popping fastball and a hard-diving curve.

"I thought I had a good fastball today, better than the last couple of outings," said Billek, who ran his record on the season to 2-2. "And in 2-0 and 3-1 counts, I was getting my breaking ball over. Everytime they were looking fastball, I tried to throw (a curveball)."

Wilson also sang Billek's praises.

"He kept the ball down and our guys just couldn't hit the ball," Wilson said.

The same could not be said for the Owls' outburst in the first inning of game two.

After Gaeton Lucibello flew out to center to start the game, Temple rightfielder Rich Swavely hit a line drive at Penn State second baseman Adam Beers. The shot proved too hot for Beers to handle, and the freshman was charged with his third error of the season.

Five of the next six batters singled and four Owls had crossed home plate. But the rally stalled with two Temple runners on base.

"We were lucky (four runs) was all they got," Hindelang said. "That just lit them up. They were like, 'We can do this.' "

But those lights went out in the second and third innings. An error and a walk allowed two Penn State runs to score in the second. Then the Lions got their second third-inning rally of the day, as the middle of the Penn State lineup cracked three singles and a double in scoring four runs.

Wilson said Penn State's game two comeback was a credit to the Lions and Hindelang, whom he coached at Temple in the 1960's.

"He has his team hustling," Wilson said. "They played real well and they came back real well."

Lion freshman righthander Mike Rooney closed out game two to pick up the first save of his college career. Teammate Bryon Herpel got the win, his first of the season.