Temple University Athletics
Saturday, February 26
High Point, N.C.
4:00 p.m.
Temple University
7
at
8
High Point
Byron McKoy
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Diamond Owls Lose Heartbreaker To High Point, 8-7
2.26.11 | Baseball
Owls fall on walk off after battling to tie the game
Box Score
HIGH POINT, N.C. - High Point (2-5) rallied back to tie the game in the eighth, winning on a walk off in the ninth to take the middle game of the series, 8-7, over the Temple baseball team (3-2). Senior Byron McKoy led the Owls going five-for-six, while senior Adrian Perez and junior Taylor Juran each drove in two runs.
Junior Brant Norlander looked solid in the start, allowing just one earned run over 6.2 innings of work. Norlander also fanned five batters. Redshirt-sophomore Steve Visnic took over for Norlander, going 0.2 innings while junior Jimmy Devine took the loss in one inning of work.
HPU's Jason Avidon went 4.2 innings in the start, with four other Panthers throwing at least one inning. Kyle Wigmore earned the win throwing the eighth.
Freshman Will Remillard (3-4, RBI) made his first career start, and appearance, behind the plate for Temple today. The Owls gave Ryan Ferguson a rest from his catching duties, starting the senior at first base. Remillard picked up his first career hit in the second inning - a two-out single to center.
Much like game one, Temple attempted to get its offense going in the first. Senior Byron McKoy led off the game with a double to right, moving to third on a sacrifice fly by junior Cameron Green. McKoy would be thrown out at home, however, as HPU third basemen Drew Geissinger snared a Perez grounder wisely caught McKoy on his way to the plate.
High Point used a bit of small ball to plate one in the bottom of the first. Norlander hit the first batter in Mike Mercurio, with the next batter, Sal Pezzino, laying down a bunt single to put two runners on. Norlander forced a grounder out of the three-hitter, Ryan Retz, with the Temple middle infield successfully turning two. A wild pitch would place Mercurio, however, giving the home team a 1-0 lead.
A scoreless bottom second half from Norlander allowed the Owls to take the lead in the top of the third. McKoy led off the frame with a single, scoring from first on a one-out double down the left field line from Perez. Ferguson moved Perez over with a groundout to shortstop, while the next batter, Nikorak, drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Junior Taylor Juran stepped up and ripped a double to right, clearing the bases and giving Temple a 3-1 lead.
The Panthers threated in the bottom of the frame, as Mercurio led off the inning with a walk. Norlander secured the first out on a grounder to third, but a single by Retz put runners on first and second with one out. Grabbing the second out of the inning on a fly to center, the runners would advance one base on a wild pitch. Norlander kept his composure, however, forcing a groundout to third to get out of the jam with no runs allowed.
Temple picked up two more in the fifth. Back-to-back singles from Ferguson and Nikorak started things off with one out for the Owls, both advancing on a single by Juran. Sophomore Dan Dragos reached on a error, with Nikorak scoring on the play and Ferguson being caught at home. Remillard stepped in as the next batter, ripping a single up the middle to plate Juran.
One more in the sixth for the Owls would pad their lead to 6-1. McKoy led off the frame with a single, moving into scoring position by swiping second. A Perez single would plate McKoy.
High Point began its comeback with one in the sixth, but five in the eight would give the Panthers a 7-6 lead. The Owls proved relentless, adding one in the ninth to tie the game. Sophomore David Hall reached base on an error, moving over on another single from Remillard. McKoy came up clutch with a single to plate Hall and tie the game 7-7 heading into the final frame.
The Panthers started off the ninth with a single by Mercurio. Devine got the next batter to pop up for the first out of the frame, but the next batter in Retz singled to shortstop. With runners on second and third, Temple strategically intentionally walked the next batter, but a single through the left side by Kyle Mahoney sent home the game winning run.
Game three is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. Temple will be sending freshman Matt Hockenberry (1-0, 2.70 ERA) to the hill, facing High Point senior Mike Caldwell (0-1, 10.80 ERA).
HIGH POINT, N.C. - High Point (2-5) rallied back to tie the game in the eighth, winning on a walk off in the ninth to take the middle game of the series, 8-7, over the Temple baseball team (3-2). Senior Byron McKoy led the Owls going five-for-six, while senior Adrian Perez and junior Taylor Juran each drove in two runs.
Junior Brant Norlander looked solid in the start, allowing just one earned run over 6.2 innings of work. Norlander also fanned five batters. Redshirt-sophomore Steve Visnic took over for Norlander, going 0.2 innings while junior Jimmy Devine took the loss in one inning of work.
HPU's Jason Avidon went 4.2 innings in the start, with four other Panthers throwing at least one inning. Kyle Wigmore earned the win throwing the eighth.
Freshman Will Remillard (3-4, RBI) made his first career start, and appearance, behind the plate for Temple today. The Owls gave Ryan Ferguson a rest from his catching duties, starting the senior at first base. Remillard picked up his first career hit in the second inning - a two-out single to center.
Much like game one, Temple attempted to get its offense going in the first. Senior Byron McKoy led off the game with a double to right, moving to third on a sacrifice fly by junior Cameron Green. McKoy would be thrown out at home, however, as HPU third basemen Drew Geissinger snared a Perez grounder wisely caught McKoy on his way to the plate.
High Point used a bit of small ball to plate one in the bottom of the first. Norlander hit the first batter in Mike Mercurio, with the next batter, Sal Pezzino, laying down a bunt single to put two runners on. Norlander forced a grounder out of the three-hitter, Ryan Retz, with the Temple middle infield successfully turning two. A wild pitch would place Mercurio, however, giving the home team a 1-0 lead.
A scoreless bottom second half from Norlander allowed the Owls to take the lead in the top of the third. McKoy led off the frame with a single, scoring from first on a one-out double down the left field line from Perez. Ferguson moved Perez over with a groundout to shortstop, while the next batter, Nikorak, drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Junior Taylor Juran stepped up and ripped a double to right, clearing the bases and giving Temple a 3-1 lead.
The Panthers threated in the bottom of the frame, as Mercurio led off the inning with a walk. Norlander secured the first out on a grounder to third, but a single by Retz put runners on first and second with one out. Grabbing the second out of the inning on a fly to center, the runners would advance one base on a wild pitch. Norlander kept his composure, however, forcing a groundout to third to get out of the jam with no runs allowed.
Temple picked up two more in the fifth. Back-to-back singles from Ferguson and Nikorak started things off with one out for the Owls, both advancing on a single by Juran. Sophomore Dan Dragos reached on a error, with Nikorak scoring on the play and Ferguson being caught at home. Remillard stepped in as the next batter, ripping a single up the middle to plate Juran.
One more in the sixth for the Owls would pad their lead to 6-1. McKoy led off the frame with a single, moving into scoring position by swiping second. A Perez single would plate McKoy.
High Point began its comeback with one in the sixth, but five in the eight would give the Panthers a 7-6 lead. The Owls proved relentless, adding one in the ninth to tie the game. Sophomore David Hall reached base on an error, moving over on another single from Remillard. McKoy came up clutch with a single to plate Hall and tie the game 7-7 heading into the final frame.
The Panthers started off the ninth with a single by Mercurio. Devine got the next batter to pop up for the first out of the frame, but the next batter in Retz singled to shortstop. With runners on second and third, Temple strategically intentionally walked the next batter, but a single through the left side by Kyle Mahoney sent home the game winning run.
Game three is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. Temple will be sending freshman Matt Hockenberry (1-0, 2.70 ERA) to the hill, facing High Point senior Mike Caldwell (0-1, 10.80 ERA).
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