Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Southern Miss
Southern Miss Tops Marshall Baseball, 8-4
5/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 4, 2007
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -
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Southern Miss used a strong pitching performance by Ryan Belanger and timely hitting to pick up an 8-4 win over Marshall in Conference USA baseball action Friday.
Belanger, a senior right hander, allowed only one run on three hits through seven innings of work to help the Golden Eagles improve to 28-19 overall and 9-10 in C-USA play. Belanger, now 6-4 on the year, struck out four while allowing only one walk.
Brian Chrisman, a junior left hander from Pittsburgh, Pa., took the loss for the Thundering Herd and saw his record fall to 3-6 after surrendering five runs on five hits through two and one-third innings.
Southern Miss took advantage of a wild pitch in the first and then gathered additional runs on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly to build a three run leader after one inning of play. The Golden Eagles then plated three runs in the bottom of the third when USM sophomore outfielder Michael Ewing hit a three-run homer off of Marshall Reliever Adam Dobies.
Marshall would get on the board in the top of the sixth inning. The Herd's Mason Chapman led off the inning with a walk and, following a fly out by Nate Lape, stole second to set up the scoring opportunity. Marshall's Jeff Rowley then delivered with a single into right to score Chapman and cut the deficit to 7-1.
Southern Miss answered in the bottom of the seventh with a Jody Blount solo homer to take an 8-1 lead, however the Thundering Herd refused to go away quietly.
Marshall rallied in the top of the eight by scoring three runs off of USM relievers JR Ballinger and Tyler Conn. Thundering Herd catcher Tommy Johnson led the inning off with a single off of Ballinger and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Marshall's Blake Sanders was then hit by a pitch to put MU runners at first and second with no one out.
Southern Miss then turned to left hander Tyler Conn who surrendered a bunt single down the third-base line to the Herd's Mason Chapman that scored Johnson. Chapman then advanced to second on a throwing error by the third baseman to put him in scoring position. Marshall's Nate Lape then delivered a two-run single to center that cut the USM lead to 8-4 and Marshall was not able to get any closer.
With the loss, Marshall falls to 19-24 overall and 4-11 in C-USA.
The Thundering Herd will look to get back on track Saturday in game two of the three-game series with the Golden Eagles. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg. Marshall is scheduled to send lefty Andrew Blain (4-1, 3.98 ERA) to the mound to face Southern Miss right-hander Barry Bowden (5-3, 3.50 ERA).
