Owls Comeback Attempt Falls Short; Loses to Fordham, 8-5

Friday, April 6

Bronx, N.Y.

11:00 a.m.

Temple University

12-17, 0

Fordham

12-18, 0

Temple

Fordham

Senior Jabair Khan is now on a five-game hit streak after going 3-for-5 on Friday at Fordham

Owls Comeback Attempt Falls Short; Loses to Fordham, 8-5

4.6.12 | Baseball

Box Score

BRONX, N.Y. – Trailing 7-0 to the Fordham Rams after the first two innings of play, Temple scored five runs between the fifth and sixth innings to climb out of a hole to make it a three-run deficit, but the Rams would fend the Owls off from getting any closer, as they would lose 8-5, at Houlihan Park on Friday.

Temple broke into Fordham's massive lead in the fifth on redshirt senior Steve Nikorak's RBI single that scored Allen Stiles, who reached base courtesy of a Fordham fielding error at second base to lead off the inning.

While Fordham capitalized on its at bats and found ways to hurt Temple starter Dan Moller in the first inning, the Owls generated a large amount of offense over the course of the day, exploding for 15 hits. Eight of Temple's starters in the batting order all collected a hit for the second straight game.

The Rams brought the lead back to a seven-run deficit in their fifth inning at bat, but Temple retaliated even harder in the sixth, as it put up a four-spot in the next inning.

Seniors Jabair Khan and Taylor Juran came in as Temple's hottest hitters over the last week and a half.
Juran had a 2-for-5 day at the dish on Friday. In the sixth inning, he got the scoring spree started for the Owls by leading off the inning with a double down the left field line.

Khan, on a current team-best four game hit streak coming in, had a 3-for-5 day including a single that scored Juran.

Stile came up and nailed an infield single to third base to put two on for junior Jordan Queja, who doubled to allow Khan to cross the plate to make it an 8-3 ballgame. Temple wasn't finished, as freshman Nick Lustrino reached base on a single to move Queja to third and to force Stiles home for his second run of the game.

The Owls cut it to within three and showed they were poised to make a comeback in this one when Lustrono and Queja took off. Queja stole home plate with two outs to make it 8-5.

Freshman Adam Dian gave the Owls a chance late in the game, pitching back-to-back scoreless inning in the sixth and seventh frames. Senior Brian Sustersic came on to pitch the eighth and also denied Fordham chances to create more damage.

Dian and Sustersic followed up a solid 5.0 innings of relief by senior Brant Norlander, holding the Rams off the base paths by not allowing a hit nor a walk.

In the eighth, Queja stood 90 feet away from home plate, but a line out by Nikorak would end the threat by Temple. The Owls also were unable to cash-in on a chance in the ninth when Juran reached base on a double, but closer Jeremy Adel notched his fourth save of the year by getting Bobby Heitzman and Matt Elko out to retire the ballgame.

Temple (12-17, 0-4) and Fordham (12-18, 4-3) return to action Saturday afternoon for a twin bill to close out the series. First pitch is slated for Noon. Sophomore Matt Hockenberry will have the ball for the Owls in game one, while freshman Patrick Peterson will toe the rubber in the series finale.