Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Kent State
Baseball Downed By Kent State, 13-2
4/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 8, 2009
KENT, Ohio - Marshall University sophomore catcher Victor Gomez and red-shirt freshman left fielder Rhett Stafford each went deep, but Kent State scored 13 runs on 14 hits to pace the Golden Flashes to a 13-2 victory over the Thundering Herd in Wednesday afternoon's non-conference baseball game at Schoonover Stadium.
With the loss, Marshall slips to 13-18 on the season, while Kent State ups its record to 22-6 overall.
After Kent State plated a run in the bottom of the first frame, the teams played two scoreless innings of baseball before Gomez tied the game with a solo-shot to right field with one out in the top of the fourth. Stafford then gave the Herd a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth with a leadoff homer to right field.
From there, Kent State answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth by an RBI single from Greg Rohan, an RBI walk from Brad Winter, and a two-run double off the bat of Ryan Mitchell.
The Golden Flashes scored a run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Jimmy Rider before Kent State used five hits and an error to cross the dish six more times.
Marshall freshman starter Mike Mason pitched the first four innings, allowing one run on four hits, while striking out five in the no decision. Sophomore Shane Farrell suffered the loss and falls to 0-6 on the season.
Kent State starter Ryan Mace earned the victory, tossing five innings with a pair of strikeouts. He did give up both Marshall runs and allowed three of the Herd's five hits, but improved his record to 2-1 on the season.
Robert Sabo pitched two innings of scoreless relief for the Golden Flashes, tallying three strikeouts, while Jon Pokorny and Kyle McMillen each added an inning of shutout relief.
Senior second baseman Adam Yeager and sophomore centerfielder Ben Jurevicius each had base-hits in the game, while freshman pinch-hitter Alfredo Brito added a two-bagger to round out the Marshall offensive effort.
Marshall returns to Conference USA action with a three-game set with UAB beginning Friday, April 10-12 at Appalachian Power Park. Friday's contest is slated for 2:05 p.m. ET with Saturday's contest set for 12:00 p.m. Sunday's first-pitch is set at 1:00 p.m.
