Temple University Athletics
Sunday, May 2
Charlotte, NC
12:00 p.m.
Temple University
7
at
8
Charlotte
Taylor Juran
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Baseball Loses Lead In Ninth, Falls In Series Finale At Charlotte
5.2.10 | Baseball
Nikorak fans three, allows two earned in start
Box Score
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Temple baseball team held the lead three times in their final game at Charlotte on Sunday, including regaining the lead in the top of the ninth, but a relentless 49ers team walked off with two runs in the ninth to win 8-7. Sophomore Taylor Juran led the Owls going three-for-three with an RBI.
The Owls jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. Sophomore Jabair Khan led off the game with a single, stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball. A double from junior Byron McKoy plated Khan, with McKoy scoring on a double from senior Tony Jusino. Juran singled to plate Jusino for Temple's 3-0 lead, giving starting pitcher redshirt-sophomore Steve Nikorak some room to work.
Nikorak was solid in the start, lasting 5.2 innings allowing two earned runs and striking out three.
Charlotte got one back in the first, and picked up three on four hits and a costly TU error in the third to regain the lead.
Juran led off the Temple fourth with a single, chasing 49ers' starter Chad Rothlin, and junior Ben Flanary reached safely on a bunt to the pitcher. Freshman Elijah Yarborough stepped up to take the lead back for Temple, belting his first career home run, a three-run shot, down the left field line to put the score at 6-4.
The Owls were cruising defensively in the middle third of the game, retiring nine straight 49ers at one point. Offensively, Temple was clicking as well but unable to plate the six runners it stranded from the fifth to seventh innings.
Charlotte picked up one in the seventh and another in the eight to tie the game up at 6-6.
Junior Ryan Ferguson led off the Temple ninth with a walk, followed by a hit batsman in Jusino and a throwing error on a grounder by sophomore Foster Dunigan to load the bases. After Ferguson was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice, Flanary came through with a clutch single through the left side to plate Jusino and give the Owls a 7-6 lead.
The 49ers were not to be denied, tying the game back up in the bottom half. Justin Wilson led off with a single, advancing to third on a Corey Shaylor double and scoring on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 7-7. After an intentional walk to the next batter, senior Ryan Thomas forced a fly-out for the second out of the inning. The first pitch to the next batter was wide, getting to the backstop and allowing Shaylor to cross home for the win.
Temple falls to 8-31, 5-13 in Atlantic 10 play while Charlotte moves to 31-11 with a 14-4 league mark.
The Owls travel home to compete against Delaware at Skip Wilson Field on May 4 at 3:00 p.m. Their final home conference series of the season is next weekend, May 7-9 against George Washington.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Temple baseball team held the lead three times in their final game at Charlotte on Sunday, including regaining the lead in the top of the ninth, but a relentless 49ers team walked off with two runs in the ninth to win 8-7. Sophomore Taylor Juran led the Owls going three-for-three with an RBI.
The Owls jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. Sophomore Jabair Khan led off the game with a single, stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball. A double from junior Byron McKoy plated Khan, with McKoy scoring on a double from senior Tony Jusino. Juran singled to plate Jusino for Temple's 3-0 lead, giving starting pitcher redshirt-sophomore Steve Nikorak some room to work.
Nikorak was solid in the start, lasting 5.2 innings allowing two earned runs and striking out three.
Charlotte got one back in the first, and picked up three on four hits and a costly TU error in the third to regain the lead.
Juran led off the Temple fourth with a single, chasing 49ers' starter Chad Rothlin, and junior Ben Flanary reached safely on a bunt to the pitcher. Freshman Elijah Yarborough stepped up to take the lead back for Temple, belting his first career home run, a three-run shot, down the left field line to put the score at 6-4.
The Owls were cruising defensively in the middle third of the game, retiring nine straight 49ers at one point. Offensively, Temple was clicking as well but unable to plate the six runners it stranded from the fifth to seventh innings.
Charlotte picked up one in the seventh and another in the eight to tie the game up at 6-6.
Junior Ryan Ferguson led off the Temple ninth with a walk, followed by a hit batsman in Jusino and a throwing error on a grounder by sophomore Foster Dunigan to load the bases. After Ferguson was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice, Flanary came through with a clutch single through the left side to plate Jusino and give the Owls a 7-6 lead.
The 49ers were not to be denied, tying the game back up in the bottom half. Justin Wilson led off with a single, advancing to third on a Corey Shaylor double and scoring on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 7-7. After an intentional walk to the next batter, senior Ryan Thomas forced a fly-out for the second out of the inning. The first pitch to the next batter was wide, getting to the backstop and allowing Shaylor to cross home for the win.
Temple falls to 8-31, 5-13 in Atlantic 10 play while Charlotte moves to 31-11 with a 14-4 league mark.
The Owls travel home to compete against Delaware at Skip Wilson Field on May 4 at 3:00 p.m. Their final home conference series of the season is next weekend, May 7-9 against George Washington.
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