Crusaders News
Wed, Mar 25, 2009 - [Baseball]
Wednesday afternoon at Warner Southern University in Lake Wales Florida, the Crusaders won 3-1 behind the strong pitching of starter Taylor Vaughn who went 5 innings only allowing 1 earned run and Kyle Fugitt who tossed 2 scoreless innings of relief.

Mount Vernon came in with a 14-4 record, but Temple's solid pitching and errorless defensive performance was the differance in the game.

When asked about the game Coach Hernandez stated, "I told our guys that this was our best all around game this season. When you defeat a program like the Cougars that has won 6 NCCAA national titles and were in the 2004 NAIA world series it says a lot about our team's all around efforts today and the improvement of our program this year. I have the upmost respect for coach Veale and how his team is always prepared and fundamentally sound, and we told our players that we were going to be tested. It would take a solid all around game to come out with the victory."

With the game scoreless in the bottom of the 5th, Temple took the lead for good scoring all three runs on a RBI double by Jeremy McKay and a 2 RBI triple by Christian Salgado. In the top of the 6th, Mount Vernon started a comeback by loading the bases with no outs, but TTU's defence turned a 4-6-3 double play that allowed the only run for the Cougars. Fugitt got the strikeout to end the threat and preserve the win. Temple improves to 12 wins and 14 losses and will play a double header on Thursday at Clearwater Christian College.