Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Xavier
Seven-Run Ninth Frame Powers Xavier Past Baseball, 13-6
3/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 24, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Junior third baseman Josh Valle smashed a two-run double to highlight a three-run eighth inning that knotted the game at 6-6, but Xavier used a seven run ninth frame to stake a 13-6 victory over the Thundering Herd in Tuesday afternoon's non-conference baseball game at George T. Smailes Field at The Kennedy Center.
With the loss, Marshall falls to 10-11 overall, while Xavier moves to 11-6 on the season.
Trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Marshall struck for three runs to even the contest at 6-6. Sophomore catcher Victor Gomez singled to right field and freshman designated hitter Thor Meeks walked before Valle's clutch double down the right field line sent both runners home, cutting the deficit to 6-5. Freshman left fielder Eric Semeniuk then moved Valle to third with a sacrifice bunt before a sacrifice fly out by sophomore shortstop Kenny Socorro allowed Valle to trot home with the game-tying run.
In the top of the ninth, Xavier used six hits and a pair of Marshall miscues to plate seven runs.
Musketeers' reliever Brain Muransky earned his third victory of the season and moves to 3-1. Muransky pitched one inning of relief and allowed three runs on two hits. Junior right-handed reliever Tyler Gatrell suffered the loss for the Herd and moves to 0-2.
Marshall drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning when sophomore right fielder Ben Jurevicius singled to left field and then stole second, before senior centerfielder Nate Lape was hit by a pitch. Jurevicius and Lape then brilliantly executed a double steal, setting up Gomez who drove in Jurevicius with a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Herd added to its lead in the third frame when senior second baseman Adam Yeager reached on catcher's interference with one out before Jurevicius singled through the left side, sending Yeager to third. After Jurevicius was caught trying to steal second, Lape doubled to centerfield bringing Yeager home before advancing to third on a fielding error. A fly out ended the stanza with Marshall ahead 2-0.
Following a scoreless fourth, Xavier put three across in the top of the fifth inning when Ben Thomas sent a two-out three-run homer over the fence in right center, giving the Musketeers a 3-2 lead.
Marshall responded in the bottom of the fifth when Yeager singled to left field, advanced to second on a balk, and raced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jurevicius. A walk to Lape placed runners on the corners before Gomez picked up his second RBI of the game with a base hit into right field. From there, the Herd put two more runners in scoring position but could not put another run across the plate, keeping the game locked at 3-3.
Xavier took a 6-3 lead in the top of the seventh frame, scoring three runs on one hit and two Herd errors, capped by an RBI ground out by Thomas.
Marshall freshman starter Greg Williams was solid on the hill in a two-inning effort, allowing just one hit while striking out one batter, while sophomore reliever Justin Moore pitched two frames of scoreless relief before running into trouble in the fifth.
Gomez's 3-for-4 two-RBI effort highlighted the Marshall offensive attack, while Valle chipped in with two hits and drove in two runs. Jurevicius pounded out two hits, while Yeager and Lape each added one in the loss.
Marshall returns to non-conference action in Richmond, Ky. for a 3:00 p.m. ET showdown with Eastern Kentucky before returning to Conference USA action with its league opening series against East Carolina, March 27-29.
