Temple University Athletics
Friday, February 17
Norfolk, VA
3:00 p.m.
Temple University
at
Old Dominion
Group shot of the 2012 Temple baseball team
Photo by: Ted Visnic
Baseball Begins 2012 Season, Ryan Wheeler Era Friday at Old Dominion
2.16.12 | Baseball
Series Notes | Interviews: C. Reilly | S. Nikorak | T. Juran
Forecast | Live Stats: Friday | Saturday | Sunday
PHILADELPHIA – Friday at 3:00 p.m. marks the start of a new era for the Temple University baseball program. Head coach Ryan Wheeler makes his debut as the Owls' new skipper when his team opens up a three-game weekend series against Old Dominion down in Norfolk, Va. Live Stats will be available for all three games by clicking the links above. Those interested can also keep up with the team on Twitter by following Temple_Baseball
When Old Dominion toes the rubber, it will also be opening a new chapter to its program, as Chris Finwood begins his tenure at the helm of the Monarchs, a team that finished as the runner-ups in the Colonial Athletic Association a year ago.
“Right out of the chute this first weekend is going to be a test for us, Wheeler said. “Old Dominion is a program I know very, very well from all my years down there in Virginia. Its program is very similar to ours where they've got a lot of pride and tradition and success in their past.”
This weekend marks the fourth time Temple and ODU have met. The Monarchs lead the all-time series 3-2-1.
The 2008 season was the last time the two went head-to-head, a series which ODU took 2-1 with the Owls winning the second game of the set. Before that, the Monarchs came to Skip Wilson in Field 1994 for their first time and only time to date for a single game, which they stole from the Owls, 10-3.
Today marks the second time in program history Temple is opening its season with ODU. In 1967, the Owls won game one before settling for a tie in the backend of a doubleheader.
On Wednesday, Wheeler revealed his starting rotation for the three-game set. Opening the new campaign on the hill will be sophomore Matt Hockenberry. Last season, the right-hander started 12 games for the Cherry and Whiter, in which he picked up two victories. Hockenberry will be opposed by ODU's righty Phil McCarthy, who led the Monarchs with nine wins last season with a 4.05 ERA.
Making his collegiate debut on Saturday will be rookie southpaw Patrick Peterson when he goes up against ODU's Ben Tomchick (2011: 8-4, 3.15 ERA). Peterson went 7-1 as a starter for the Charter School of Wilmington last spring. Over the course of last year, he padded together a microscopic 0.94 ERA, The Bear, Del. native has shown he has a knack for getting guys out. Last season he struck out 110 batters through 56 innings of work.
In the rubber match being played on Sunday afternoon, redshirt senior Steve Nikorak will toe the rubber for the Owls, where he will be opposed by redshirt junior Brett Harris, who sat out last season to rehab recover from surgery he had back in 2010.
Nikorak will be looked to lead the Owls offense, as he returns after a season in which he batted .359 on the year and contributed with a program-record 23 doubles and a team-high 11 home runs.
Seniors Jabair Khan and Taylor Juran also return after helping the Owls to the nation's fifth-highest batting average in the nation (.319). Khan batted .294 and had 57 hits through all 53 games, while Juran was a .319 hitter with 29 hits and 21 RBIs.
The Owls are welcoming 10 new faces to make up for the 10 that departed.
Among the newcomers, the Owls have a pair of twins (Patrick and Eric Peterson) and a quarterback after Connor Reilly of the Temple football team was a late addition to the baseball squad. Reilly is one of only two student-athletes at the school to play multiple sports.
For more insight on the upcoming season and the opening series from the players, watch the videos above.
Forecast | Live Stats: Friday | Saturday | Sunday
PHILADELPHIA – Friday at 3:00 p.m. marks the start of a new era for the Temple University baseball program. Head coach Ryan Wheeler makes his debut as the Owls' new skipper when his team opens up a three-game weekend series against Old Dominion down in Norfolk, Va. Live Stats will be available for all three games by clicking the links above. Those interested can also keep up with the team on Twitter by following Temple_Baseball
When Old Dominion toes the rubber, it will also be opening a new chapter to its program, as Chris Finwood begins his tenure at the helm of the Monarchs, a team that finished as the runner-ups in the Colonial Athletic Association a year ago.
“Right out of the chute this first weekend is going to be a test for us, Wheeler said. “Old Dominion is a program I know very, very well from all my years down there in Virginia. Its program is very similar to ours where they've got a lot of pride and tradition and success in their past.”
This weekend marks the fourth time Temple and ODU have met. The Monarchs lead the all-time series 3-2-1.
The 2008 season was the last time the two went head-to-head, a series which ODU took 2-1 with the Owls winning the second game of the set. Before that, the Monarchs came to Skip Wilson in Field 1994 for their first time and only time to date for a single game, which they stole from the Owls, 10-3.
Today marks the second time in program history Temple is opening its season with ODU. In 1967, the Owls won game one before settling for a tie in the backend of a doubleheader.
On Wednesday, Wheeler revealed his starting rotation for the three-game set. Opening the new campaign on the hill will be sophomore Matt Hockenberry. Last season, the right-hander started 12 games for the Cherry and Whiter, in which he picked up two victories. Hockenberry will be opposed by ODU's righty Phil McCarthy, who led the Monarchs with nine wins last season with a 4.05 ERA.
Making his collegiate debut on Saturday will be rookie southpaw Patrick Peterson when he goes up against ODU's Ben Tomchick (2011: 8-4, 3.15 ERA). Peterson went 7-1 as a starter for the Charter School of Wilmington last spring. Over the course of last year, he padded together a microscopic 0.94 ERA, The Bear, Del. native has shown he has a knack for getting guys out. Last season he struck out 110 batters through 56 innings of work.
In the rubber match being played on Sunday afternoon, redshirt senior Steve Nikorak will toe the rubber for the Owls, where he will be opposed by redshirt junior Brett Harris, who sat out last season to rehab recover from surgery he had back in 2010.
Nikorak will be looked to lead the Owls offense, as he returns after a season in which he batted .359 on the year and contributed with a program-record 23 doubles and a team-high 11 home runs.
Seniors Jabair Khan and Taylor Juran also return after helping the Owls to the nation's fifth-highest batting average in the nation (.319). Khan batted .294 and had 57 hits through all 53 games, while Juran was a .319 hitter with 29 hits and 21 RBIs.
The Owls are welcoming 10 new faces to make up for the 10 that departed.
Among the newcomers, the Owls have a pair of twins (Patrick and Eric Peterson) and a quarterback after Connor Reilly of the Temple football team was a late addition to the baseball squad. Reilly is one of only two student-athletes at the school to play multiple sports.
For more insight on the upcoming season and the opening series from the players, watch the videos above.
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