Temple University Athletics
Friday, March 30
West Long Branch, N.J.
3:00 p.m.
Temple University
at
Monmouth
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Baseball Looks To Get Back On Track This Weekend Against Monmouth
3.30.12 | Baseball
Series Notes | Friday and Saturday Live Stats | Sunday Live Stats | Live Video (Sunday) | Twitter Updates
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Temple takes a respite form Atlantic 10 Conference play to take on the Monmouth Hawks for its final non-conference series of the season. The layout of the series schedule is unorthodox, as the two teams will meet at Monmouth's Kessler Field Friday and Saturday before shifting the rubber match of the series to Skip Wilson Field on Sunday. Live stats will be provided for all three games. Sunday's home game will be web streamed on Owl Access.
The Owls roll into West Long Branch, N.J. with a 10-15 record on the year and looking to snap a four-game losing streak. Temple has won four of its last six non-conference games coming into Friday's series opener with the Hawks.
Monmouth, 13-10 on the year, enters the weekend after enduring a loss at Saint Peter's on Tuesday following its split in a four-game set with Northeast Conference rival Wagner last weekend. The Hawks own a 4-1 record on their home field this season.
Temple's first-year head coach Ryan Wheeler has made an adjustment to is weekend rotation. Rather than starting a series with sophomore Matt Hockenberry, he will go with senior Dan Moller on Friday and push Hockenberry to Saturday and freshman Patrick Peterson to Sunday.
With this change, the Owls will have two left-handed starters in a series for the first time this season.
As mentioned, Moller (0-3, 12.38 ERA) will be on the hill for the Owls on Friday, where he will be opposed by Monmouth's flame-throwing junior right-hander Pat Light. Light, who has throws a 96 mph fastball, is 4-1 with an ERA of 2.93.
Hockenberry leads the Temple pitching staff with his three wins on the year and will be looking for No. 4 when he goes up against southpaw Dan Smith (3-3, 5.30 ERA) on Saturday afternoon.
Peterson leads all Temple starting pitchers with a 2.48 ERA. He will be making his first start since cruising through the first eight innings of his last start, in which he did not allow a hit until facing Saint Louis' leadoff batter in the ninth inning, who smacked a double to break up the no-no. The rookie southpaw sensation is ranked seventh among starting pitchers in the conference with his ERA, while holding second place in the league with his 40 strikeouts. Monmouth's starter for the series finale is yet to be determined.
Redshirt senior Steve Nikorak will get the weekend series off from the rubber, but will have a presence elsewhere. On the year, the Owls' third baseman is leading the team with a .337 batting average. Nikorak, who also leads the team with 32 hits, has reached base in all 25 games this season, giving him a streak of 27 consecutive games in which he has been on the base paths, dating back to last season. The Stroudsburg, Pa. native is tied for third place in the A-10 with 25 runs scored.
Leading the way for Monmouth is Jamie Rosenkranz with a team-high .333 batting average and 32 hits through 96 at bats. Junior Danny Avella leads the Hawks with 22 runs batted in. At times, he has been dangerous this season, as he has belted a team-most three home runs.
The Owls have gotten significant offense from redshirt junior Matt Elko over the last 11 games since he began to see time as a starter. On the year, Elko is hitting .288 with 21 hits. In 10 of the last 11 games, Elko has reached base courtesy of at least one hit. Junior Jordan Queja has been hot out of the leadoff spot all season. Hitting .303, the Mililani, Hawaii native leads the team with 99 at bats and is second—only to Nikorak—with his 30 hits.
Out of the bullpen, redshirt junior Steve Visnic has been the go-to choice for Wheeler and pitching coach Brian Pugh late in games. Visnic's sidearm release has done him wonders thus far. In his 11 appearances, in which he has totaled 21.2 innings of relief work, Visnic has allowed just three earned runs all season. His ERA of 1.25 is ranked sixth in the A-10 among relief pitchers.
Temple and Monmouth are deadlocked in the all-time series through four games, winning two apiece. The Owls won last season's single game meeting at Skip Wilson Field, 6-5.
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Temple takes a respite form Atlantic 10 Conference play to take on the Monmouth Hawks for its final non-conference series of the season. The layout of the series schedule is unorthodox, as the two teams will meet at Monmouth's Kessler Field Friday and Saturday before shifting the rubber match of the series to Skip Wilson Field on Sunday. Live stats will be provided for all three games. Sunday's home game will be web streamed on Owl Access.
The Owls roll into West Long Branch, N.J. with a 10-15 record on the year and looking to snap a four-game losing streak. Temple has won four of its last six non-conference games coming into Friday's series opener with the Hawks.
Monmouth, 13-10 on the year, enters the weekend after enduring a loss at Saint Peter's on Tuesday following its split in a four-game set with Northeast Conference rival Wagner last weekend. The Hawks own a 4-1 record on their home field this season.
Temple's first-year head coach Ryan Wheeler has made an adjustment to is weekend rotation. Rather than starting a series with sophomore Matt Hockenberry, he will go with senior Dan Moller on Friday and push Hockenberry to Saturday and freshman Patrick Peterson to Sunday.
With this change, the Owls will have two left-handed starters in a series for the first time this season.
As mentioned, Moller (0-3, 12.38 ERA) will be on the hill for the Owls on Friday, where he will be opposed by Monmouth's flame-throwing junior right-hander Pat Light. Light, who has throws a 96 mph fastball, is 4-1 with an ERA of 2.93.
Hockenberry leads the Temple pitching staff with his three wins on the year and will be looking for No. 4 when he goes up against southpaw Dan Smith (3-3, 5.30 ERA) on Saturday afternoon.
Peterson leads all Temple starting pitchers with a 2.48 ERA. He will be making his first start since cruising through the first eight innings of his last start, in which he did not allow a hit until facing Saint Louis' leadoff batter in the ninth inning, who smacked a double to break up the no-no. The rookie southpaw sensation is ranked seventh among starting pitchers in the conference with his ERA, while holding second place in the league with his 40 strikeouts. Monmouth's starter for the series finale is yet to be determined.
Redshirt senior Steve Nikorak will get the weekend series off from the rubber, but will have a presence elsewhere. On the year, the Owls' third baseman is leading the team with a .337 batting average. Nikorak, who also leads the team with 32 hits, has reached base in all 25 games this season, giving him a streak of 27 consecutive games in which he has been on the base paths, dating back to last season. The Stroudsburg, Pa. native is tied for third place in the A-10 with 25 runs scored.
Leading the way for Monmouth is Jamie Rosenkranz with a team-high .333 batting average and 32 hits through 96 at bats. Junior Danny Avella leads the Hawks with 22 runs batted in. At times, he has been dangerous this season, as he has belted a team-most three home runs.
The Owls have gotten significant offense from redshirt junior Matt Elko over the last 11 games since he began to see time as a starter. On the year, Elko is hitting .288 with 21 hits. In 10 of the last 11 games, Elko has reached base courtesy of at least one hit. Junior Jordan Queja has been hot out of the leadoff spot all season. Hitting .303, the Mililani, Hawaii native leads the team with 99 at bats and is second—only to Nikorak—with his 30 hits.
Out of the bullpen, redshirt junior Steve Visnic has been the go-to choice for Wheeler and pitching coach Brian Pugh late in games. Visnic's sidearm release has done him wonders thus far. In his 11 appearances, in which he has totaled 21.2 innings of relief work, Visnic has allowed just three earned runs all season. His ERA of 1.25 is ranked sixth in the A-10 among relief pitchers.
Temple and Monmouth are deadlocked in the all-time series through four games, winning two apiece. The Owls won last season's single game meeting at Skip Wilson Field, 6-5.
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