Box Score
AMBLER, Pa. – Junior Ben White threw seven innings allowing only two earned runs to lead the Temple baseball team (2-12) past Niagara (4-15), 12-9, Saturday afternoon at Skip Wilson Field. The Owls’ bats came alive as well, running up the Purple Eagles for 18 hits on the day.
White (1-2) gave the Owls a quality start, striking out nine opposing batters. Senior Matt Blackburn, sophomore Dan Moller and senior Ryan Thomas pitched in to close out the game, combining for the final two innings of work.
Niagara’s Bill Rafferty took the loss, going six innings giving up four earned runs.
Junior Adrian Perez went a perfect four-for-four with a walk, including an RBI-double to tie the game in the first. The California native has reached base safely in his last nine at bats, after going four-for-four against Marist on Friday.
Down 3-2 in the fifth inning, Temple broke out a three-run rally to take the lead for good. Back-to-back-to-back singles by senior Tony Jusino, Perez and junior Ryan Ferguson set the table for redshirt-sophomore Steve Nikorak (4-5, 3 2B, 4 RBI), who doubled to clear the bases and give Temple a 5-3 lead.
Temple broke the game wide open in the seventh, posting seven runs in the frame. With the bases loaded and one out, junior Byron McKoy (2-5, HR, 4 RBI) stepped up and jacked a grand slam to pad the lead to 12-3.
Niagara would pick up one in the eighth and five in the ninth, but it would not be enough to overcome the defecit.
TU’s Jusino extended his hit streak to 11 games, hitting safely in 12 of the Owls’ first 14.
The Owls close out the weekend at Skip Wilson Field, hosting Pittsburgh on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.