Box Score UNO-Temple Box Score
NEW ORLEANS – A three-run home run by Steve Nikorak in the sixth inning broke a 2-2 tie and put Temple in the driver's seat on way to an 11-3 win on Sunday afternoon at Maestri Field.
Nikorak was the hero for the second day in a row for TU (21-16), hitting 2-for-2 with four RBIs.
A day earlier, Nikorak hit a game-tying home run to send Saturday's first game to extra innings before coming across the plate for the go-ahead run in the 11th.
The Owls struck for two runs in the opening inning with UNO (3-37) returning the favor with a single run in both the first and second frames.
Beau Boudreaux scored on a Blake DesRoches single in the opening inning before scoring Steffan Farrell an inning later on a sacrifice fly. DesRoches hit 3-for-5 to lead the Privateer offense in the game.
The score would remain tied until Nikorak's home run in his first appearance as a designated hitter on the day. Nikorak started the game on the mound by allowing two runs on two hits while walking seven in four innings.
TU added one more run on Privateer starter Scott Stonestreet (1-3), who departed after 5 1/3 innings. The freshman allowed six runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out one.
Nikorak was replaced on the mound by Phil Gianakos (1-1). The only run Gianakos allowed came in the sixth when Boudreaux singled in Tyler Sanders to cut the lead to three.
A two-run home run by Adrian Perez bolstered the effort behind Gianakos, part of a five-run eighth inning that extended the lead to 11-3. Perez joined teammates Daniel Dragos, Cameron Green, Byron McKoy and Nikorak with a pair of hits.
UNO will hit the road for two mid-week contests beginning Tuesday at South Alabama and followed on Wednesday by Southeastern Louisiana. Both games are set for 6 p.m. starts.
