Temple University Athletics
Tuesday, May 11
Plymouth Meeting, PA
2:00 p.m.
Temple University
6
at
4
Villanova
Steve Nikorak
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Four-Run Fifth Lifts Baseball Past Villanova, 6-4
5.11.10 | Baseball
Six different Owls drive in one run
Box Score
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – A four-run fifth inning from the Temple baseball team was too much for Villanova to overcome in the city-rivals' meeting Tuesday afternoon at Villanova Ballpark, as six different Owls drove in one run in the 6-4 win. Redshirt-sophomore Steve Nikorak went three-for-three with three runs scored to lead the charge.
The Owls jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. With one down, Nikorak singled and stole second to put himself in scoring position, plating on a single from senior Tony Jusino (2-3, RBI, SB).
Villanova answered with one in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 1-1.
Freshman Jimmy Powers got the nod for Temple and fared well over the 3.2 innings he pitched allowing no earned runs and striking out two. Getting into trouble in the fourth, sophomore Tyler Horst (3.2 IP, 1 K) came on and worked out of a bases loaded jam.
Four runs in the fifth gave the Owls a comfortable 5-1 lead. Freshman David Hall led off with a single, scoring on a triple from junior Byron McKoy. Sophomore Jabair Khan stepped in and doubled to plate McKoy, advancing to third on a passed ball and scoring on a groundout from junior Adrian Perez. With two outs and no one on, Nikorak (3-3, 2B, HR, RBI) came to the plate and belted a solo home run to right field for the fourth run of the inning.
One more in the eighth on back-to-back doubles from Nikorak and junior Ben Flanary put the Temple's lead at 6-1.
The Wildcats attempted a late comeback, putting three runs up in the bottom of the eighth to move the final score to 6-4. Senior Ryan Thomas came on with runners on second and third and two outs in the eighth, securing the final out of the inning and retiring the side in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season.
Horst (2-5) earned the win for Temple, while Villanova's (27-19) Jerry Battipaglia goes down with the loss.
TU's McKoy extended his hit streak to 13 games, now hitting safely in 18 of the Owls last 19.
Temple (11-34, 7-14) travels to Duquesne this weekend for a three game series beginning on May 14.
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – A four-run fifth inning from the Temple baseball team was too much for Villanova to overcome in the city-rivals' meeting Tuesday afternoon at Villanova Ballpark, as six different Owls drove in one run in the 6-4 win. Redshirt-sophomore Steve Nikorak went three-for-three with three runs scored to lead the charge.
The Owls jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. With one down, Nikorak singled and stole second to put himself in scoring position, plating on a single from senior Tony Jusino (2-3, RBI, SB).
Villanova answered with one in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 1-1.
Freshman Jimmy Powers got the nod for Temple and fared well over the 3.2 innings he pitched allowing no earned runs and striking out two. Getting into trouble in the fourth, sophomore Tyler Horst (3.2 IP, 1 K) came on and worked out of a bases loaded jam.
Four runs in the fifth gave the Owls a comfortable 5-1 lead. Freshman David Hall led off with a single, scoring on a triple from junior Byron McKoy. Sophomore Jabair Khan stepped in and doubled to plate McKoy, advancing to third on a passed ball and scoring on a groundout from junior Adrian Perez. With two outs and no one on, Nikorak (3-3, 2B, HR, RBI) came to the plate and belted a solo home run to right field for the fourth run of the inning.
One more in the eighth on back-to-back doubles from Nikorak and junior Ben Flanary put the Temple's lead at 6-1.
The Wildcats attempted a late comeback, putting three runs up in the bottom of the eighth to move the final score to 6-4. Senior Ryan Thomas came on with runners on second and third and two outs in the eighth, securing the final out of the inning and retiring the side in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season.
Horst (2-5) earned the win for Temple, while Villanova's (27-19) Jerry Battipaglia goes down with the loss.
TU's McKoy extended his hit streak to 13 games, now hitting safely in 18 of the Owls last 19.
Temple (11-34, 7-14) travels to Duquesne this weekend for a three game series beginning on May 14.
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