Temple University Athletics
Tuesday, April 26
Skip Wilson Field
3:00 p.m.
Temple University
8
vs
9
Villanova
Adrian Perez
Baseball Rallies To Take Lead, Falls On Late Runs By Villanova, 9-8
4.26.11 | Baseball
Perez propels Temple offense with five RBI
Box Score
AMBLER, Pa. - The Temple baseball team took a one-run lead in the bottom of the eight, only to see Villanova post two runs in the top of the ninth to take a 9-8 decision at Skip Wilson Field on Tuesday afternoon. The Owls are now 21-17 overall on the year, while the Wildcats improve to 14-24.
Freshman Zach Batchelor got the Owls started with three innings of work, in which Villanova rattled off seven runs. Redshirt-sophomore Steve Visnic (1.1 IP, 1 K), junior Jimmy Devine (1.2 IP) and redshirt-freshman Ryan Kuehn (2.0 IP, 1 K) combined to throw the next four innings scoreless. Freshman Zach White took the loss, securing the first two outs of the ninth but being relieved by freshman Ryan Davis for the final out.
Perez drove in five runs on a double and a single to lead the Owls at the plate. Redshirt-junior Steve Nikorak drove in two critical runs for the Owls on a double, while senior Byron McKoy and sophomore Daniel Dragos each had two hits.
Villanova starter Max Almonte tossed five quality innings to start, striking out four and limiting the Owls to two runs. Jerry Battipaglia was run up for four runs by the Owls, with Mike Francisco taking the win with 1.2 innings of scorless work.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two innings of play, adding another run in the fourth to make it 7-0. The Owls slowly chipped away with a pair in the second, as Perez hit a two-RBI single that drove in sophomore Elijah Yarborough and junior Jabair Khan - both reaching base on walks.
Temple would score six unanswered runs to take a 8-7 lead at the end of the eighth. A huge five-run seventh was the difference maker. Khan led off the frame with a single, eventually scoring on an RBI-single by sophomore Henry Knabe. Perez roped a double to left-center that plated two runners in McKoy and senior Rafael Cordero, while Nikorak hit another two-RBI double that sent home senior Ryan Ferguson and Perez.
In the eighth, Cordero was the catalyst, sparking the rally with a lead off single. He would move to second on a fielder's choice, advancing to third on a single by McKoy. He would plate on a well placed sacrifice bunt by Perez, giving the Owls an 8-7 advantage.
White looked like he had the Wildcats in the top of the ninth, forcing a flyout by the first hitter and, after allowing a single to the next batter, struck out the three-hitter to put Villanova down to its final out. VU's Matt Fleishman got the better of White, however, hitting a two-run homer to left center to give his team a 9-8 win.
The Owls travel to Rhode Island this weekend for an Atlantic 10 series beginning Friday, April 28.
AMBLER, Pa. - The Temple baseball team took a one-run lead in the bottom of the eight, only to see Villanova post two runs in the top of the ninth to take a 9-8 decision at Skip Wilson Field on Tuesday afternoon. The Owls are now 21-17 overall on the year, while the Wildcats improve to 14-24.
Freshman Zach Batchelor got the Owls started with three innings of work, in which Villanova rattled off seven runs. Redshirt-sophomore Steve Visnic (1.1 IP, 1 K), junior Jimmy Devine (1.2 IP) and redshirt-freshman Ryan Kuehn (2.0 IP, 1 K) combined to throw the next four innings scoreless. Freshman Zach White took the loss, securing the first two outs of the ninth but being relieved by freshman Ryan Davis for the final out.
Perez drove in five runs on a double and a single to lead the Owls at the plate. Redshirt-junior Steve Nikorak drove in two critical runs for the Owls on a double, while senior Byron McKoy and sophomore Daniel Dragos each had two hits.
Villanova starter Max Almonte tossed five quality innings to start, striking out four and limiting the Owls to two runs. Jerry Battipaglia was run up for four runs by the Owls, with Mike Francisco taking the win with 1.2 innings of scorless work.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two innings of play, adding another run in the fourth to make it 7-0. The Owls slowly chipped away with a pair in the second, as Perez hit a two-RBI single that drove in sophomore Elijah Yarborough and junior Jabair Khan - both reaching base on walks.
Temple would score six unanswered runs to take a 8-7 lead at the end of the eighth. A huge five-run seventh was the difference maker. Khan led off the frame with a single, eventually scoring on an RBI-single by sophomore Henry Knabe. Perez roped a double to left-center that plated two runners in McKoy and senior Rafael Cordero, while Nikorak hit another two-RBI double that sent home senior Ryan Ferguson and Perez.
In the eighth, Cordero was the catalyst, sparking the rally with a lead off single. He would move to second on a fielder's choice, advancing to third on a single by McKoy. He would plate on a well placed sacrifice bunt by Perez, giving the Owls an 8-7 advantage.
White looked like he had the Wildcats in the top of the ninth, forcing a flyout by the first hitter and, after allowing a single to the next batter, struck out the three-hitter to put Villanova down to its final out. VU's Matt Fleishman got the better of White, however, hitting a two-run homer to left center to give his team a 9-8 win.
The Owls travel to Rhode Island this weekend for an Atlantic 10 series beginning Friday, April 28.
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