Marshall University Athletics
Herd Rallies To Defeat Bobcats, 13-9
4/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Herd Rallies To Defeat Bobcats, 13-9
4/17/2004
- Box Score
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. ? The Thundering Herd baseball team erased a five run deficit in the sixth inning and came back to earn a 13-9 win Saturday at University Heights.
Ohio (11-20, 4-7 MAC) roughed up Marshall starting pitcher Chris Koutsavlis (Pittsburgh, PA) early in the game. After notching three hits in the first two innings, the Bobcats exploded for five runs and nine hits in the top of the third inning. Steve Ziroli (LaGrange, IL) saw action for the second day in a row when he came in to replace Koutsavlis with two outs in the inning.
Things were looking down for the Herd (15-20, 3-7 MAC) as it was held to three hits through five innings. Things changed in the bottom of the sixth. After the first two batters struck out, Rich Russell (Toronto, Ont.) walked, and moved up on a hit by Adam Frederick (Franklin, PA). Russell scored when Joe Glevenyak (West Palm Beach, FL) reached on an error to make it a 5-1 game.
With two on, Brad Helm (Downington, PA) brought two more runs in when he tripled to right field. It was only the second triple of the year for the Herd. A double by Mike Koitsopoulos (Markham, Ont.) brought Helm in and made it a 5-4 OU lead.
Marshall kept things going in the seventh. Aaron Jamieson (Lindsay, Ont.) and Corie O?Bryan (Frederick, MD) led off the inning with consecutive singles to bring up Francois Larmore (Magnolia, NJ). Larmore, MU?s leading home run hitter, recorded his sixth of the year, this time a three run shot to center, to give Marshall a 7-5 lead.
The Herd added more insurance in the eighth inning. Eleven batters went to the plate, tallying five hits, one walk, and two hit batters to bring in six more runs and take a 13-5 lead.
While the offense scored at will, Steve Ziroli kept the Herd in the game. After throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings on Friday, Ziroli came back and threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings on Saturday. He retired 11 straight Bobcats from the third through seventh innings. He allowed only three hits over that span.
In the top of the eighth, Chris Cummings (Huntington, WV) came in with two outs and two men on and got the final out of the inning. With an eight run lead in the ninth, freshman pitcher Adam Dobies (Pittsburgh, PA) was brought in to finish things off. It was not easy as Dobies allowed four runs on four hits, but he was able to get out of the inning and give Marshall its second straight win.
Ziroli earned the win for MU improving his record to 2-1. Ryan White took the loss for Ohio dropping his record to 1-1. Adam Frederick led the way for MU, going 3-5 with two RBI?s. Larmore also contributed with his three run home run in the seventh. He had four RBI?s on the day. Jamieson, Monaco and Helm each had two hits. Jamieson has not hit safely in seven straight games.
The Herd will be looking for the series sweep against the Bobcats on Sunday afternoon. The action starts at 1 p.m. at University Heights. Grant Harper (Grayson, KY) will take the mound for Marshall, looking for his team-leading fourth win of the season. Admission is free.
