Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Akron
Baseball Zips By Akron In Season Opener, 9-3
2/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 20, 2009
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Marshall scored nine runs in the middle three innings to pace the Thundering Herd to a 9-3 victory over Akron in the 2009 season opener for both teams in the first game of Wake Forest Baseball Tournament action, Friday at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park.
With the win, Marshall improves to 1-0 on the season, winning its season opener for the second straight year, while Akron begins its season 0-1.
Leading 9-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Marshall freshman left hander Mike Mason replaced reliever Chad Johnson and walked the bases loaded, before Brett Savage delivered a one-out two-run single to center field, cutting the Marshall lead to six at 9-3. Junior right-hander Tyler Gatrell then entered in relief of Mason and induced a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Marshall right-handed starter Arik Sikula made his first collegiate start, and earned his first victory of the season, pitching five strong innings, allowing no runs on just four hits, while fanning five batters. Akron right-hander Frank Turocy suffered the loss, pitching 4.1 innings while giving up seven runs (all earned) on eight hits.
After a scoreless first inning, Marshall got things going in the second frame when junior first baseman Josh Valle earned a one-out walk. Freshman designated hitter Thor Meeks then recorded his first collegiate-career hit and the Herd's first of the season, to give Marshall a pair of base runners. A ground out to second base by sophomore second baseman Kenny Socorro moved the runners into scoring position, but Turocy induced an inning-ending groundout to halt the threat.
Akron responded in the bottom half of the second when John Turk and Kyle Hallett drilled back-to-back one-out singles to give the Zips two runners on before Sikula fired a strikeout and then forced Ryan Frazee to fly out to left field to keep the game scoreless.
The Herd drew first blood in the top of the fourth when sophomore third baseman Victor Gomez doubled sharply down the left field line. Gomez came full circle when Valle rifled a single up the middle, giving Marshall its first run of the 2009 season. Valle then advanced to second when Meeks was hit by a pitch, and moved to third on a fielder's choice by Socorro. Sophomore catcher Kevin Shackelford then blasted a two-out, two-run double to left field, giving the Herd its third run of the stanza. Sophomore right fielder Ben Jurevicius kept the inning alive with an RBI single left, scoring Shackelford. Jurevicius then picked up the first stolen base of the season, before senior shortstop Adam Yeager got hit by a pitch to give Marshall two more runners on base. Turocy was able escape further damage by forcing an inning-ending fly out to center field.
Marshall picked up where it left off in the top of the fifth when Gomez again delivered a one-out hit, this time a triple to right center field. Valle drove in his second run of the game with a laser through the right side of the Akron infield, extending the Herd lead to 5-0. Valle then advanced to second on a wild pitch before Meeks earned a free pass to first. Socorro then drove in Valle with a single to right field, placing runners on the corners and knocking Turocy out of the game in favor of southpaw Scott Foster. Shackelford then earned his third RBI of the contest with a sacrifice fly to center field, making the cushion 7-0, before the Zips were finally able to get out of the inning with a groundout to the pitcher.
In the bottom of the fifth, Akron managed to get runners on second and third with two outs thanks to an infield error and double to left field, before Sikula registered his fifth strikeout of the contest, ending the Zips' threat.
In the top of the sixth, senior centerfielder Nate Lape drilled the first home run in Wake Forest Baseball Park history, a two-run blast to right centerfield, giving Marshall a commanding 9-0 lead.
Sophomore right-hander Justin Moore replaced Sikula to start the home half of the sixth and kept the Zips off the board using a double play and a strikeout to retire the side.
Johnson replaced Moore in the seventh inning and after giving up a leadoff double to left field, struck out the next three batters in order.
In the bottom of the eighth frame, Akron plated its first run of the game after Jake Plata and Matt Roberts provided back-to-back one-out doubles. Johnson was able to keep the Zips from scoring again, forcing a groundout and a fly out to end the inning.
Johnson tossed a pair of strong innings for the Herd, giving up one run on three hits while striking out four batters in the outing.
Marshall finished with 10 hits in the game, while Akron totaled nine.
Shackelford finished the game 1-for-3 with three RBIs while Valle and Gomez each had two hits apiece. Valle and Lape each drove in a pair of runs, and Jurevicius and Socorro drove in one each.
Marshall resumes Friday action with a 2:30 p.m. ET contest with Old Dominion. Left-handed redshirt junior Ryan Kiel will take the hill against the Monarchs. The Herd will also face Old Dominion, Saturday, with first-pitch slated for 11:00 a.m. ET.
