Temple University Athletics
Sunday, March 7
Durham, NC
1:00 p.m.
Temple University
2
at
8
Duke
Steve Nikorak
Five-Run Second Inning Lifts Duke Past Temple, 8-2
3.7.10 | Baseball
Nikorak fans one, lasts 1.1 innings in debut
Box Score
DURHAM, N.C. – A quick start from Duke was too much for the Temple baseball team to overcome, as the Owls fell in the series finale 8-2, Sunday afternoon at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Junior Rafael Cordero hit a solo homerun in the fifth inning, going one-for-four on the day.
In his season debut, redshirt-sophomore Steve Nikorak (0-1) went 1.1 innings, giving up two runs. Duke's Marcus Strohman (2-0) came on in relief in the fourth to collect the win, striking out seven.
Nikorak worked out of a bases loaded jam in the first, allowing one uncharged run on an error.
Five runs on four hits from Duke in the second would put the game out of reach. With Nikorak pulled with two on and one out, sophomore Dan Moller gave up a three-run homer to DU's Eric Brady. Two more runs in the stanza would move the Blue Devils lead to 6-0.
Temple manufactured a run in the fourth to get on the board for the first time this series. With Nikorak and freshman Daniel Dragos advancing to second and third after back-to-back walks and a passed ball, freshman Elijah Yarborough launched a sacrifice fly to left to score one.
Cordero got another one back for TU in the fifth, driving his team-leading second home run of the season over the left field wall to move the score to 6-2.
One run in the fifth and another in the sixth from Duke would do it, as the Owls could not manage to plate a runner for the remainder of the contest.
Senior Tony Jusino went one-for-five on the day, moving his hit streak to seven games. Still leading the team with a .439 batting average, he has hit safely in eight of TU's first ten games.
The Owls (0-10) return home for their season opener at Skip Wilson Field, hosting Delaware State on Wednesday, March 10 at 2:30 p.m.
DURHAM, N.C. – A quick start from Duke was too much for the Temple baseball team to overcome, as the Owls fell in the series finale 8-2, Sunday afternoon at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Junior Rafael Cordero hit a solo homerun in the fifth inning, going one-for-four on the day.
In his season debut, redshirt-sophomore Steve Nikorak (0-1) went 1.1 innings, giving up two runs. Duke's Marcus Strohman (2-0) came on in relief in the fourth to collect the win, striking out seven.
Nikorak worked out of a bases loaded jam in the first, allowing one uncharged run on an error.
Five runs on four hits from Duke in the second would put the game out of reach. With Nikorak pulled with two on and one out, sophomore Dan Moller gave up a three-run homer to DU's Eric Brady. Two more runs in the stanza would move the Blue Devils lead to 6-0.
Temple manufactured a run in the fourth to get on the board for the first time this series. With Nikorak and freshman Daniel Dragos advancing to second and third after back-to-back walks and a passed ball, freshman Elijah Yarborough launched a sacrifice fly to left to score one.
Cordero got another one back for TU in the fifth, driving his team-leading second home run of the season over the left field wall to move the score to 6-2.
One run in the fifth and another in the sixth from Duke would do it, as the Owls could not manage to plate a runner for the remainder of the contest.
Senior Tony Jusino went one-for-five on the day, moving his hit streak to seven games. Still leading the team with a .439 batting average, he has hit safely in eight of TU's first ten games.
The Owls (0-10) return home for their season opener at Skip Wilson Field, hosting Delaware State on Wednesday, March 10 at 2:30 p.m.
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