Marshall University Athletics
Baseball Enjoys Record-Setting Day Against EKU
5/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Baseball Enjoys Record-Setting Day Against EKU
5/11/2004
- Box Score
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. - Three Thundering Herd baseball players, Grant Harper (Grayson, KY), Chris Meadows (Huntington, WV) and Chris Monaco (Tucson, AZ), put their names in the record book in Marshall?s 11-0 victory over Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday at University Heights.
Monaco started things off, stealing his 33rd base of the season in the bottom of the first inning, tying Aaron Williams' Marshall single-season record of 33 set in 1999. He broke the record when he stole his 34th base in the bottom of the second inning. The centerfielder capped off his day by going 4-for-5 with three runs scored.
Senior Chris Meadows came into the game to pitch the ninth inning, and in doing so, made his 93rd career appearance, tying the all-time Mid-American Conference career appearance record. Matt Speicher of Ball State set the record of 93 in the 1999 season.
Harper, the Marshall starter on Tuesday, went 6 2/3 scoreless innings and earned his fifth win of the season. The win gave him a career total of 18, moving him into second on the Marshall all-time career win list. He is one win behind Albie DeYoung?s record of 19.
Aside from the records, there was a game played. Eastern Kentucky came into the game batting .386 as a team. They started off hot, loading the bases in the first, but Harper was able get out of the inning.
The Herd (22-26, 5-12 MAC) responded in the bottom of the frame. Monaco hit a single to start the inning. Aaron Jamieson (Lindsay, Ont.) was hit by a pitch, and with one out, Corie O?Bryan (Frederick, MD) walked to load the bases. MAC East Player of the Week, Adam Frederick (Franklin, PA) singled to score MU?s first run of the game, and Rich Russell (Toronto, Ont.) followed that up with an RBI double.
Marshall added to the lead in the second inning, notching two more runs. Mike Koitsopoulos (Markham, Ont.) hit a home run with one out in the inning to extend the lead to 3-0. Monaco followed that up with a single. He then stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an error by the catcher for the fourth run of the game.
In the bottom of the third, MU made it a 7-0 game. Frederick hit a one-out single to bring up Russell. The catcher proceeded to crush a ball to center field to add on two more runs. Monaco later had an RBI single to score the third run of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Rich Russell batted in his fourth run of the game when he hit a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Herd offense was back at it again the bottom of the seventh, adding on two more runs on three hits in the inning. Josh McConnell (Phenix City, AL) and Francois Larmore (Magnolia, NJ) each had RBI singles in the inning. The last run of the game came in the bottom of the eighth when Adam Frederick capped off a 4-for-4 day with a solo home run to center field. It was his third home run of the season.
Harper, along with Steve Ziroli (LaGrange, IL) and Meadows held the Colonel offense scoreless, allowing only eight hits in the game. Harper improved his record this season to 5-4 with the win.
For the third time in four games, the Marshall offense recorded 14 or more hits when they tagged the EKU pitchers for 16 today. Frederick led the way, going 4-for-4 with a walk, RBI and two runs scored. Monaco went 4-for-5, scoring a run and stealing two bases and Russell had another strong day, going 3-for-4 with four RBI?s.
Marshall will look to keep the offense clicking when they travel to Ball State to take on the Cardinals in a three game MAC series this weekend. Game one is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. on Friday. HerdZone.com will have updates throughout the weekend.
