Temple University Athletics
Friday, April 29
Kingston, R.I.
3:00 p.m.
Temple University
8
at
9
Rhode Island
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Baseball's Late Surge Outdone By Rhode Island In Opener, 9-8
4.29.11 | Baseball
Owls plate eight over final two to tie, Rams walk off with win
Box Score
KINGSTON, R.I. - The Temple baseball team exploded for eight runs over the final two frames of the Owls' series-opener at Rhode Island, but the Rams responded with a run in the bottom of the ninth to walk of with a 9-8 win Friday afternoon at Bill Beck Field. The Owls are now 21-18, 3-10 in Atlantic 10 play while the Rams improve to 24-17, 10-6 in A-10 play.
Senior Ben White gave the Owls eight innings of work to start, striking out eight batters but allowing seven earned runs. White walked just one batter and scattered eight hits in the outing. Redshirt-junior Steve Nikorak (4-4) took the loss for TU, securing the first out of the ninth before the deciding run crossed the plate.
Senior Ryan Ferguson (1-3) and junior Jabair Khan (3-4) each drove in two runs in the contest, with Nikorak (1-5, RBI) junior Cameron Green scoring twice. Senior Byron McKoy (1-2, SF, 2 BB) and Green (1-1, 2 R) each ripped a double, the only extra base hits of the day for the Owls.
URI's Anthony Pisani lasted 7.1 innings in the start, holding Temple to just three runs and striking out eight hitters. Redshirt-sophomore Rob Curran earned the win throwing 1.0 innings and allowing two runs.
The Rams held a 3-0 lead through seven innings of play before the Temple bats came to life in the top of the eighth. Green was hit by a pitch to reach base with one out, moving to second after McKoy walked. Perez was pegged to load the bases, with Nikorak singling up the middle to score Green. Ferguson dug in and ripped a single back up the middle to plate two. Sophomore Daniel Dragos followed suit and singled up the middle to plate Nikorak, with freshman Bobby Heitzman (pinch runner for Ferguson) and Dragos plating on a single by Khan to give the Owls a 6-3 lead.
Rhode Island battled back with five in the bottom of the eight to regain the lead at 8-6, but the Owls continued to fight. Green led off the top of the ninth with a double to left center, advancing to third on a flyout by McKoy. Perez singled down the left field line to plate Green and bring the Owls within one. TU was not done, as Nikorak reached base on a fielder's choice which sent Perez to the dugout. Nikorak moved to second on a wild pitch, setting up an RBI-single by junior Foster Dunigan that tied the game at 8-8.
The Rams would have the last say, however, exiting the top of the ninth with the game tied and moving the lead off hitter around to score in the bottom of the ninth to win the game 9-8.
The series continues tomorrow with junior Brant Norlander of Temple going against senior Ken Graveline of Rhode Island at 1:00 p.m.
KINGSTON, R.I. - The Temple baseball team exploded for eight runs over the final two frames of the Owls' series-opener at Rhode Island, but the Rams responded with a run in the bottom of the ninth to walk of with a 9-8 win Friday afternoon at Bill Beck Field. The Owls are now 21-18, 3-10 in Atlantic 10 play while the Rams improve to 24-17, 10-6 in A-10 play.
Senior Ben White gave the Owls eight innings of work to start, striking out eight batters but allowing seven earned runs. White walked just one batter and scattered eight hits in the outing. Redshirt-junior Steve Nikorak (4-4) took the loss for TU, securing the first out of the ninth before the deciding run crossed the plate.
Senior Ryan Ferguson (1-3) and junior Jabair Khan (3-4) each drove in two runs in the contest, with Nikorak (1-5, RBI) junior Cameron Green scoring twice. Senior Byron McKoy (1-2, SF, 2 BB) and Green (1-1, 2 R) each ripped a double, the only extra base hits of the day for the Owls.
URI's Anthony Pisani lasted 7.1 innings in the start, holding Temple to just three runs and striking out eight hitters. Redshirt-sophomore Rob Curran earned the win throwing 1.0 innings and allowing two runs.
The Rams held a 3-0 lead through seven innings of play before the Temple bats came to life in the top of the eighth. Green was hit by a pitch to reach base with one out, moving to second after McKoy walked. Perez was pegged to load the bases, with Nikorak singling up the middle to score Green. Ferguson dug in and ripped a single back up the middle to plate two. Sophomore Daniel Dragos followed suit and singled up the middle to plate Nikorak, with freshman Bobby Heitzman (pinch runner for Ferguson) and Dragos plating on a single by Khan to give the Owls a 6-3 lead.
Rhode Island battled back with five in the bottom of the eight to regain the lead at 8-6, but the Owls continued to fight. Green led off the top of the ninth with a double to left center, advancing to third on a flyout by McKoy. Perez singled down the left field line to plate Green and bring the Owls within one. TU was not done, as Nikorak reached base on a fielder's choice which sent Perez to the dugout. Nikorak moved to second on a wild pitch, setting up an RBI-single by junior Foster Dunigan that tied the game at 8-8.
The Rams would have the last say, however, exiting the top of the ninth with the game tied and moving the lead off hitter around to score in the bottom of the ninth to win the game 9-8.
The series continues tomorrow with junior Brant Norlander of Temple going against senior Ken Graveline of Rhode Island at 1:00 p.m.
Ep. 7: Temple Field Hockey Alumna Cherifa Howarth
Friday, September 26
Ep. 6: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Field Hockey's Peyton Rieger
Tuesday, September 23
Temple Men's Basketball | Mic'd Up at Temple Women's Volleyball Game
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Ep. 5: Head Men's Golf Coach Brian Quinn
Friday, September 19
