Marshall University Athletics
Baseball Team Adds All-Conference Performer in Murray
6/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Baseball Team Adds All-Conference Performer in Murray
6/3/2003
Marshall Murray |
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. ? Marshall University head baseball coach Dave Piepenbrink has announced the signing of junior college transfer Marshall Murray for the 2004 season.
Murray, who will join the Thundering Herd as a junior next season, was twice named to the All-Bay Valley Conference first team during his two-year stint with Oakland, California?s Laney College. The versatile utility man was Laney?s team MVP in both the 2002 and 2003 seasons and garnered Pre-Season All-American honors last year from the California Community College Coaches Association.
The 5-11 right-hander was fourth in the BVC in doubles (15), fifth in home runs (4) and ranked in the top ten in hitting (.383), on-base percentage (.462), slugging percentage (.549) and triples (2) in 2002. Murray followed up his freshman campaign by hitting .378 in 2003, .415 in BVC play, and was among the top five in infielder RBI production in the conference with 34.
The 21-year-old will bring added athletic ability and defensive prowess to a Marshall team that committed the second-most errors in the Mid-American Conference last season.
?We didn?t take care of the baseball too well last year,? Piepenbrink said. ?Murray is an outstanding player that will significantly upgrade our infield and/or outfield defense. He has the ability to step right in to become one of our better defenders.?
In 27 conference games at shortstop in 2003, Murray fielded at a .952 clip with only six errors. He is expected to compete for the third base job as incumbent Herd corner man Corie O'Bryan (Frederick, Md.) is slated to make the switch to first base next year.
