Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Kent State
Kent State Outlasts Baseball In Game One Of Doubleheader
3/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 18, 2008
MONTGOMERY, W.Va. - Marshall University sophomore first baseman Josh Valle capped off the Herd's six-run fourth inning with his first collegiate grand slam, but Kent State scored at least one run in all seven innings to pace the Golden Flashes to a 12-11 victory in the first game of Tuesday afternoon's non-conference doubleheader at Epling Stadium.
With the loss, Marshall sees its six-game winning streak snapped, and falls to 8-7 overall, while Kent State improves to 5-10 on the season.
Trailing 11-10 in the top of the seventh, Kent State placed runners on second and third with two outs before junior shortstop Chris Tremblay singled to center field scoring two runs increasing the Golden Flashes lead to 12-11.
Kent State senior right-handed reliever Reid Lamport, who entered the game in relief with one out in the sixth inning, was able to retire the side in order and pick up his third win of the season.
Herd freshman reliever Arik Sikula suffered his first setback of the season in the game one loss.
Kent State built a 7-0 lead after four innings, highlighted by a three-run homer by freshman designated hitter Ben Klafczynski in the third before Marshall responded with a six-run inning of its own in the bottom of the fourth to pull to within one run at 7-6.
Junior third baseman Brandon Casamassima led off the fourth with a double and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Senior left fielder Jeff Rowley drew a walk, before junior centerfielder Nate Lape tallied an RBI single through the left side scoring Casamassima. Junior right fielder Kurt Lipton added his own RBI single, scoring Rowley and placing runners on first and second. Freshman designated hitter Victor Gomez singled to center to load the bases. From there, Valle tallied his third home run of the season, a grand slam to left field. The blast was the Herd's first since Casamassima accomplished the feat April 22, 2007 at Memphis, highlighting an 11-0 Marshall win.
Kent State extended its lead to 8-6 with a run in the top of the fifth, but the Herd answered when it captured its first lead of the contest with a three-run home half of the inning.
Marshall again loaded the bases before senior catcher Tommy Johnson cleared the bases with a one-out double to right center, his fourth two-bagger of the season, giving the Herd a 9-8 advantage.
The Golden Flashes scored two in the top of the sixth, but again Marshall roared right back. Lape tallied an RBI single, while sophomore pinch hitter Blake Sanders added an RBI sacrifice bunt to highlight the bottom of the inning to reclaim the lead for the Herd at 11-10.
Lape and Johnson finished with three hits apiece in the game, while Lipton, Gomez and Valle each added a pair of hits in the losing effort.
Marshall continues action against Kent State with the second game of the doubleheader at Epling Stadium to begin at 3:30 p.m. Freshman right-hander Justin Moore will get the start on the mound for the Herd.
