Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Baseball Set To Host Valparaiso
3/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 10, 2008
LOUISA, Ky. - The Marshall University baseball team will host Valparaiso in its non-conference home-opener Tuesday, March 11, at Lawrence County High School in Louisa Ky. First-pitch of game one is slated for 12:30 p.m.
After inclement weather wiped out Marshall's scheduled home-opening series against Marist this past weekend, the Herd (2-6) enters Tuesday's contest looking to snap its four-game losing skid. Valparaiso comes in with an overall record of 2-9 and is looking to break a losing streak of eight games.
Junior center fielder Nate Lape is currently on an eight-game hitting streak and presently sits atop Conference USA in batting average (.483) and slugging percentage (.897), while junior shortstop Adam Yeager looks to extend a four-game hitting streak of his own.
In Marshall's most recent game, a 10-5 loss to Cincinnati, five of the Herd's eight hits went for doubles. Senior catcher Tommy Johnson accounted for two, while Lape, junior third baseman Brandon Casamassima, and freshman second baseman Kenny Socorro each registered a two-bagger.
In his first collegiate start against the Bearcats, freshman outfielder Ben Jurevicius made a solid debut as he tallied an RBI single.
Sophomore right-hander Dan Straily will start for the Herd in game one on Tuesday. Straily has registered 10 strikeouts in 10.1 innings of work in two starts so far this season.
Either freshman right-hander Justin Moore or freshman right-hander Shane Farrell will start in the second game on Tuesday. Whoever does not pitch in the second game on Tuesday, will start the second game on Wednesday.
Wednesday's game one starter will be lefty Brian Mooney. The junior has struck out four in 5.1 innings so far in 2008.
Valparaiso senior outfielder Zach Rodeghero enters the series with Marshall as the only player to start all 11 of the Crusaders' games thus far. Rodeghero has 18 hits, five doubles, a homer and a pair of stolen bases to go along with .419 batting average. He is tied for the team-lead with 10 RBIs and has also registered a .605 slugging percentage.
In eight games for Valparaiso, sophomore third baseman Josh Wallace has tallied a .364 batting average with three long-balls, eight RBIs, and two doubles. The second year player is also playing stellar defense at the hot corner with a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Freshman right-hander Bryce Shafer (0-0) leads the Crusaders with 18.0 innings pitched and has notched a team-high 13 strikeouts in three starts on the hill. The first-year hurler has given up just five earned runs on eight hits and has issued six free passes. Shafer will get the ball in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader. Senior right-hander John Snelton will take the hill on the backend of the double-header.
Wednesday, sophomore southpaw Ranko Ivetic will get the nod in the first game and junior right-hander Alex Berry will round out the four-game series on the mound for the Crusaders.
