Temple University Athletics
Sunday, May 16
Pittsburgh, PA
12:00 p.m.
Temple University
8
at
3
Duquesne
Steve Nikorak
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Diamond Owls Avoid Series Sweep With 8-3 Win Over Duquesne
5.16.10 | Baseball
Nikorak fans nine over six innings of work
Box Score
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Redshirt-sophomore Steve Nikorak struck out a season-high nine hitters over six innings of work to guide the Temple baseball team past Duquesne 8-3, Sunday afternoon at Duquesne Field. Fueling the Owls' offensive efforts was junior Ryan Ferguson, who drove in three runs on the day going two-for four with a double and a home run.
Nikorak (3-5) let up one run on a solo home run in the first, but settled down to toss three straight scoreless frames. Over the game, he scattered six hits surrendering three earned runs.
While Nikorak kept the Dukes off balance, the Temple offense went to work in the top of the second, posting two runs to take the lead at 2-1. Ferguson led off the frame with a solo homer, tying the game at 1-1. Sophomore Taylor Juran (2-3, RBI) came up next and walked, advancing on a passed ball to score on a single from junior Jean Carlos Diaz (1-2, 2 RBI).
Junior Adrian Perez (1-4, HR, RBI) pushed the Owls lead to 3-1 with a solo home run to left centerfield in the top of the third.
The Dukes chipped away at the Temple lead with one run in the fifth on three singles.
Ferguson and Juran were the again the catalysts for the Owls' run in the sixth. Ferguson started the inning with a walk, advancing to second on a single from Juran. A double to right center from junior Ben Flanary scored Ferguson to recover the run at 4-2.
Duquesne matched Temple's run in the bottom of the frame, as pinch hitter Andrew Dobson homered to cut the lead to one at 4-3.
A four run fourth from the Owls would bury the Dukes for good. After junior Byron McKoy flew out, senior Tony Jusino and Perez drew back-to-back walks. Ferguson stepped in as the next batter and doubled to right field, plating both and giving the Owls a 6-3 lead. The rally was not over, as Juran came up with a single to score Ferguson from second. A single from freshman David Hall moved junior Rafael Cordero (pinch ran for Juran) to second, with Cordero moving over on a wild pitch. Diaz picked up his second RBI of the day, lifting a fly ball to centerfield to score Cordero.
Redshirt-freshman Steve Visnic came on in relief for Nikorak to throw a scoreless seventh, but getting into trouble in the eighth. After allowing two-straight singles to start the frame, Visnic settled down to secure a fly out and a strike out to the next two hitters. Senior Ryan Thomas came in to take over with two down, fanning the first batter he faced. With his first batter of the ninth reaching on error, Thomas struck out the next hitter and forced a groundout and fly out to secure the win.
For Visnic, it was his 27 appearance of the season, tying teammate Thomas' performance in 2008 for the TU single-season record.
Temple is now 12-36, 8-16 on the season, while Duquesne falls to 15-38, 9-15.
The Owls return to Skip Wilson Field for their final home game of the season, facing Rider at 3:00 p.m. Temple has one final conference series remaining, traveling to St. Bonaventure on May 20-22.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Redshirt-sophomore Steve Nikorak struck out a season-high nine hitters over six innings of work to guide the Temple baseball team past Duquesne 8-3, Sunday afternoon at Duquesne Field. Fueling the Owls' offensive efforts was junior Ryan Ferguson, who drove in three runs on the day going two-for four with a double and a home run.
Nikorak (3-5) let up one run on a solo home run in the first, but settled down to toss three straight scoreless frames. Over the game, he scattered six hits surrendering three earned runs.
While Nikorak kept the Dukes off balance, the Temple offense went to work in the top of the second, posting two runs to take the lead at 2-1. Ferguson led off the frame with a solo homer, tying the game at 1-1. Sophomore Taylor Juran (2-3, RBI) came up next and walked, advancing on a passed ball to score on a single from junior Jean Carlos Diaz (1-2, 2 RBI).
Junior Adrian Perez (1-4, HR, RBI) pushed the Owls lead to 3-1 with a solo home run to left centerfield in the top of the third.
The Dukes chipped away at the Temple lead with one run in the fifth on three singles.
Ferguson and Juran were the again the catalysts for the Owls' run in the sixth. Ferguson started the inning with a walk, advancing to second on a single from Juran. A double to right center from junior Ben Flanary scored Ferguson to recover the run at 4-2.
Duquesne matched Temple's run in the bottom of the frame, as pinch hitter Andrew Dobson homered to cut the lead to one at 4-3.
A four run fourth from the Owls would bury the Dukes for good. After junior Byron McKoy flew out, senior Tony Jusino and Perez drew back-to-back walks. Ferguson stepped in as the next batter and doubled to right field, plating both and giving the Owls a 6-3 lead. The rally was not over, as Juran came up with a single to score Ferguson from second. A single from freshman David Hall moved junior Rafael Cordero (pinch ran for Juran) to second, with Cordero moving over on a wild pitch. Diaz picked up his second RBI of the day, lifting a fly ball to centerfield to score Cordero.
Redshirt-freshman Steve Visnic came on in relief for Nikorak to throw a scoreless seventh, but getting into trouble in the eighth. After allowing two-straight singles to start the frame, Visnic settled down to secure a fly out and a strike out to the next two hitters. Senior Ryan Thomas came in to take over with two down, fanning the first batter he faced. With his first batter of the ninth reaching on error, Thomas struck out the next hitter and forced a groundout and fly out to secure the win.
For Visnic, it was his 27 appearance of the season, tying teammate Thomas' performance in 2008 for the TU single-season record.
Temple is now 12-36, 8-16 on the season, while Duquesne falls to 15-38, 9-15.
The Owls return to Skip Wilson Field for their final home game of the season, facing Rider at 3:00 p.m. Temple has one final conference series remaining, traveling to St. Bonaventure on May 20-22.
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