Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UCF
Baseball Powers Past UCF, 9-6
4/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 19, 2008
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Marshall University senior catcher Tommy Johnson went 2-for-4 blasted his sixth home run and added a double to help lead the Thundering Herd to a 9-6 victory over UCF in Saturday afternoon's Conference USA baseball game at Appalachian Power Park.
With the win, Marshall (18-19-1, 6-7-1 C-USA) eclipsed its conference win total from a year ago and ensures its best record in league play since joining the prestigious C-USA.
UCF falls to 26-15 on the season and 4-10 in conference action.
Down four runs in the ninth, UCF made one last effort, but could only plate one run as Marshall came away with the 9-6 victory.
Herd starter Steve Blevins (5-2) pitched seven strong innings on the hill, allowing only one free-pass while striking out seven Knights.
UCF starter Mitch Houch (3-2) suffered the loss after pitching 2.1 innings. He allowed seven runs on seven hits and walked four batters in eighth start of the season.
Marshall's offense, which posted 12 runs in Friday's series opener, picked up right where it left off, scoring four times in the bottom of the first inning. Shortstop Adam Yeager led off with a walk and, after advancing to second on a wild pitch, scored on third baseman Brandon Casamassima's single on a text-book hit-and-run.
Following a walk to first baseman Josh Valle and perfectly executed double steal by Valle and Casamassima, center fielder Nate Lape singled up the middle, plating Casamassima to put Marshall up 2-0. The third run of the inning crossed the plate on a balk by Houck while a Johnson double plated Lape to give Marshall a 4-0 lead.
The Knights made their first run in the top of the third inning, cutting the Herd lead to just a run. With the bases loaded and two outs, UCF first baseman Kiko Vazquez singled to center bringing in the first two UCF runs of the contest. A single from catcher Robert Lara scored the third UCF run of the inning.
Marshall countered with three runs of its own in the bottom of the third courtesy of Johnson and designated hitter Victor Gomez. Lape led the inning off with a walk before Johnson followed with his sixth home run of the season (the first at Power Park since Casamassima sent a pitch over the wall against Rice on March 22). Right fielder Kurt Lipton, who walked to bring up Gomez, who responded with a double, scoring Lipton to give the Herd a 7-3 lead.
The eighth run for Marshall crossed the plate in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from Lape before the Knights closed the gap in the top half of the seventh on a two-RBI double by Ryan Richardson. The Herd got one of the runs right back on a Yeager triple, which plated pinch runner Matt Helm.
Johnson, Lape, Gomez and left fielder Jeff Rowley each smacked a pair of hits while Lape and Johnson knocked three in on the day.
Casamassima swiped a pair of bags, while Valle, Lipton and Helm each stole a base in the winning effort.
UCF received a 3-for-5 performance from Bailey and got two hits apiece from Colin Arnold and Lara.
Marshall and UCF will conclude series play Sunday, at Appalachian Power Park. First-pitch is slated for 10:00 a.m. and will feature Herd right-hander Dan Straily (3-2) against Carmine Giardina (3-1).
