Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Southern Miss
Baseball Swings Past No. 28 Southern Miss, 16-10
5/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 2, 2008
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Marshall University's Tommy Johnson launched a three-run homer (his eighth) and Ben Jurevicius added his first long ball of the season to power the Thundering Herd to a 16-10 victory over No. 28 Southern Miss in Friday night's Conference USA baseball game at Appalachian Power Park.
With the win, Marshall is 24-22-1 overall and 10-8-1 in C-USA action, while Southern Miss slips to 32-15 on the season and 9-7 in league action.
Friday marked the first victory for the Herd over a ranked opponent since Marshall took a 10-4 decision against Houston (No. 28 at the time), in 2007. The win also gives the Herd a 5-8 record this season against top 50 opponents.
Marshall posted a 15-4 lead through six innings before Southern Miss plated two runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to bring the game to 16-10, but the Golden Eagles could get no closer as Marshall won its 10th conference game of the season.
Jurevicius added some insurance as he cleared the fence in left field with the first home run of his college career in the eighth inning.
Herd starter Steve Blevins (7-2) had a strong six-inning performance on the hill. He allowed just four runs (one earned) and scattered seven hits, and fanned one batter in the win.
Southern Miss starter Josh Billeaud (3-4) suffered the loss as he allowed 14 runs on 13 hits. He walked three and struck out two in the losing effort.
Marshall wasted no time, notching four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Nate Lape ripped an RBI single through the right side, and Victor Gomez pounded a double down the right field line and advanced to third on a fielding error to score two more runs. A groundout by Johnson plated Gomez with the fourth run of the inning.
The third inning saw Marshall score five times. After Josh Valle and Lape singled, Gomez drove in Valle with a single through the right side. Johnson followed that with a bomb to left center field. Jeff Rowley singled to left, advanced to second on a groundout, reached third on a passed ball, and then scored when Adam Yeager sprinted to first after striking out on a wild pitch to make the score 9-0.
After Southern Miss got two back in the top of the fourth, Marshall continued to swing a hot bat, posting its second five-spot in as many innings. Lape earned a one-out walk and tried to score from first on a double by Gomez but was thrown out at home. Johnson then laced an infield single and Rowley walked before Kenny Socorro ripped a two-run single up the middle. Jurevicius then tripled to left center plating two more runs. The three-bagger sent Billeaud from the game in favor of reliever Jonathan Johnston. Yeager singled up the middle sending Jurevicius home with the Herd's 14th run of the game to make the score 14-2.
The Golden Eagles plated a run in the fifth and Marshall answered with a run in the bottom half after a pair of walks and an infield single loaded the bases for Socorro who earned an RBI walk, bringing the score to 15-3.
A solo blast by Southern Miss' Michael Ewing, who finished 4-for-5 with a double and a home run, brought the score to 15-4.
Herd reliever Adam Dobies entered in the ninth inning to make his 58th career-appearance on the hill for Marshall. The mark ranks him eighth on the Herd's career-appearance list. Active members on the list include Andrew Hancock, who currently holds the fourth slot on the list with 64 appearances, and Andrew Blain who is currently in the 10th spot with 54 appearances.
Gomez and Johnson finished with three hits apiece while Lape, Socorro and Jurevicius each contributed two. Johnson led the team with four runs batted in while Socorro, Gomez and Jurevicius drove in three each in the winning effort.
Marshall returns to C-USA action Saturday, when Andrew Blain (2-4) squares off against Todd McInnis (6-2). Game-time is set for 7:00 p.m. at Appalachian Power Park. Free GameTracker will be provided by visiting www.herdzone.com.
