Diamond Owls Edge First Place Duquesne, 5-4 :: Freshman Steve Nikorak doubles home go-ahead run in the sixth

April 18, 2008

AMBLER, PA - Freshman Steve Nikorak doubled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and Temple (18-17, 9-4 A-10) survived an interesting ninth inning to beat first place Duquesne, 5-4, on Friday at Skip Wilson Field. The Owls received 5.1 scoreless innings from their bullpen and have now reached nine conference wins faster than any team since the 2001 squad began 9-1 in the Atlantic 10. Junior Sean Barksdale was a triple away from the cycle and knocked in two runs.

"It was a great win for us," head coach Rob Valli said. "I don't know if we played great, but we played well enough to win. Our bullpen was outstanding and we had some timely hitting, especially from Steve Nikorak."

With the score all tied up at four in the sixth, junior Mark Ortega doubled down the left field line to lead-off up the inning. After a sacrifice bunt by junior Kyle Obal moved Ortega to third, Nikorak stepped to the plate looking to give Temple its first lead of the game.

The freshman, who picked up his first collegiate win on the mound on Wednesday, lined the first pitch he saw into the gap in left-center to give TU a 5-4 lead. Freshman Byron McKoy, who had two hits in the game, singled to put runners on first and third with one out. Temple could not push another run across, however, as a failed safety squeeze and strikeout ended the inning.

Sophomore Matt Blackburn, who improved to 3-0 with two scoreless innings of relief, handed the ball over to classmate Ryan Thomas with two outs and a runner on third in the seventh. Thomas snared a hard-hit comebacker and flipped to first to protect the lead.

Thomas then gave way to senior Arshwin Asjes, who pitched a perfect eighth inning. In the ninth, the closer threw away a lead-off bunt by Derek Mechling to put the tying run on first. Mechling was sacrificed to second and moved to third when a strikeout of Aaron Janusey got by Obal behind the plate.

With the tying run just ninety feet away, Duquesne clean-up hitter Mike Carroll lofted a fly-ball that hugged the leftfield line, which would have been deep enough to score Mechling. But Abercrombie let the foul ball drop and Asjes came back to strike Carroll out for the second out. Abercrombie then caught a line drive for the game's final out.

It was Asjes sixth save of the season and third in conference play. He is now tied for second all-time on the single season saves list with Jay Hallman, who also saved six games in 1976. Peter Moore set the record with eight in 1999.

The playoff-type intensity surrounding the game did not serve the Cherry and White well early on, as the Dukes (15-18, 10-3) opened a 4-1 lead after three innings. Barksdale's team-leading fourth homerun of the season, which caromed off the scoreboard in right, provided Temple's only run early.

The Owls tied the game with three in the fourth. Obal led off with a double down the right field line and scored on McKoy's team-leading eighth double. A walk to Abercrombie and hit by pitch to Barksdale loaded the bases for sophomore Matt Heltz, who lofted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 4-3, Duquesne. Barksdale followed with an RBI single to tie the game.

Barkdale (3-for-3) and McKoy were Temple's only multi-hit performers. Barksdale, who is riding a nine-game hitting streak, has raised his average nearly 40 points during the span.

Ryan Juran (4-5), the older brother of TU signee Taylor Juran, suffered the loss after allowing five earned runs in seven innings. Mechling singled and homered while Pat Kimutis had two hits and two RBI for Duquesne.

The Cherry and White has now matched its Atlantic 10 win total from last year with nine. The 9-4 start is the best in conference play since the 2001 team, which won the league title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, began 11-1.

The Owls remain in a tie for third place with Xavier, one game behind league leading Charlotte and Duquesne.

Junior Matt Mongiardini will take the hill for Temple on Cherry and White Day on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 PM. The spring football game, which begins at 1:15 PM, highlights the annual alumni festivities on the Ambler campus.

"Cherry and White is typically a great day and Duquesne is still the number one team in our conference," Valli said. "We're excited for it."

NOTES: Obal is batting .349 in conference play...Temple improved to 11-3 when making one error or less and has made just three errors in its last five wins...Duquesne was making its first trip to Skip Wilson Field and its first visit to Temple since 2002...The Owls have won four out of five since a 23-0 loss to Richmond last Friday...Senior Tom Dolan moved into a tie for fifth in the all-time games started list with 37.