Temple University Athletics
Sunday, April 15
Ambler, Pa.
Noon
Temple University
13-22, 1-8
2
vs
3
Charlotte
16-20, 4-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Charlotte
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
10
0
Temple
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
9
1
Photo by: Ted Visnic
Baseball's Ninth Inning Dramatics Not Enough; Suffers 3-2 Heart-Breaker To Charlotte
4.15.12 | Baseball
Postgame Interview
AMBLER – In the rubber match of its first home Atlantic 10 Conference series with the Charlotte 49ers, the Temple Owls built up the drama in the bottom of the ninth, but suffered a heart-wrenching 3-2 loss at Skip Wilson Field on Sunday. After Freshman Nick Lustrino singled to score Jabair Khan to make it a one-run contest, redshirt senior Steve Nikorak got the chance to win it for the Owls for the second straight day.
With junior Jordan Queja in scoring position over at second base, Nikorak's swing was on point and was drilled at Charlotte's short stop, who made an impressive grab to make the force out a second base to end the ballgame.
Khan's 10-game hit streak came to an end, but being hit by a pitch to lead off the ninth inning turned his streak to an on base streak, which now stands at 11 consecutive games.
In the third inning, Charlotte's Tony Montalbano smashed a 1-1 pitch off of Owls' starter freshman left-hander Patrick Peterson for a two-run home run to get the scoring started.
After winning Saturday's game on a three-run double, Nikorak came to the plate in a similar situation. With the bases loaded in his third inning at bat of Sunday's game, Nikorak drove a pitch into left field to bring the Owls back, as Henry Knabe crossed the plate. Junior Foster Dunigan rounded third and charged home to tie the game on the play, but was gunned down at the plate on a perfect throw from left fielder J.J. Elsesser.
Peterson left the ballgame in the seventh inning with runners on second and third. In relief, his twin brother, Eric, took over. Despite allowing an inherited runner to score, Ericlimited the damage.
Patrick finished the game, going 6.2 iings in which he struck out four 49ers, while allowing five hits and surrendering three walks.
Redshirt junior Steve Visnic came on in the eighth after Montalbano led off with a double. Visnic pitched the remainder of the game. In the eighth, Corbin Shive drilled a pitch right back at Visnic, who made a sensational backhanded catch by his shin before firing over to first to get Shane Basen out for the double play.
Patrick Peterson suffered his third loss of the season, while 49er reliever Chad Rothlin notched his third win of the year after finishing the fifth and pitching into the ninth. John Hamilton converted his seventh save of the year.
The Owls (13-22, 1-8) drop their third Atlantic 10 Conference series of the season. Temple will continue its current eight-game homestand on Tuesday afternoon at Skip Wilson Field when they welcome the Delaware Blue Hens for a midweek non-conference game, set for 3:00 p.m.
AMBLER – In the rubber match of its first home Atlantic 10 Conference series with the Charlotte 49ers, the Temple Owls built up the drama in the bottom of the ninth, but suffered a heart-wrenching 3-2 loss at Skip Wilson Field on Sunday. After Freshman Nick Lustrino singled to score Jabair Khan to make it a one-run contest, redshirt senior Steve Nikorak got the chance to win it for the Owls for the second straight day.
With junior Jordan Queja in scoring position over at second base, Nikorak's swing was on point and was drilled at Charlotte's short stop, who made an impressive grab to make the force out a second base to end the ballgame.
Khan's 10-game hit streak came to an end, but being hit by a pitch to lead off the ninth inning turned his streak to an on base streak, which now stands at 11 consecutive games.
In the third inning, Charlotte's Tony Montalbano smashed a 1-1 pitch off of Owls' starter freshman left-hander Patrick Peterson for a two-run home run to get the scoring started.
After winning Saturday's game on a three-run double, Nikorak came to the plate in a similar situation. With the bases loaded in his third inning at bat of Sunday's game, Nikorak drove a pitch into left field to bring the Owls back, as Henry Knabe crossed the plate. Junior Foster Dunigan rounded third and charged home to tie the game on the play, but was gunned down at the plate on a perfect throw from left fielder J.J. Elsesser.
Peterson left the ballgame in the seventh inning with runners on second and third. In relief, his twin brother, Eric, took over. Despite allowing an inherited runner to score, Ericlimited the damage.
Patrick finished the game, going 6.2 iings in which he struck out four 49ers, while allowing five hits and surrendering three walks.
Redshirt junior Steve Visnic came on in the eighth after Montalbano led off with a double. Visnic pitched the remainder of the game. In the eighth, Corbin Shive drilled a pitch right back at Visnic, who made a sensational backhanded catch by his shin before firing over to first to get Shane Basen out for the double play.
Patrick Peterson suffered his third loss of the season, while 49er reliever Chad Rothlin notched his third win of the year after finishing the fifth and pitching into the ninth. John Hamilton converted his seventh save of the year.
The Owls (13-22, 1-8) drop their third Atlantic 10 Conference series of the season. Temple will continue its current eight-game homestand on Tuesday afternoon at Skip Wilson Field when they welcome the Delaware Blue Hens for a midweek non-conference game, set for 3:00 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: ROTHLIN, Chad (3-2)
L: Peterson, Patrick (2-3)
S: HAMILTON, John (7)
Batting:
2B: ROLAND, Justin 1 ; MONTALBANO, Tony 1
HR: MONTALBANO, Tony 1
RBI: ROLAND, Justin 1 ; MONTALBANO, Tony 2
SH: RALEY, Patrick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CLEMMONS, Leland 1 ; MONTALBANO, Tony 1 ; SEAGER, Justin 1
SB: ROLAND, Justin 1 ; CLEMMONS, Leland 1 ; BASEN, Shane 1
Batting:
RBI: Lustrino, Nick 1 ; Nikorak, Steve 1
SH: Queja, Jordan 1 ; Lustrino, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Khan, Jabair 1 ; Knabe, Henry 1
CS: Queja, Jordan 1 ; Khan, Jabair 1
HBP: Nikorak, Steve 1 ; Khan, Jabair 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
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Ep. 28: Vice President/Debbie & Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson
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Ep. 27: Men's Crew Student-Athlete Adam Curran
Thursday, December 11
