Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Southern Miss
Baseball Wins Rubber Match Against Southern Miss, 6-3
4/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 18, 2010
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Arik Sikula was the Sunday stopper for the Marshall University baseball team as the junior right-hander worked a career-high 7.0 innings allowing no earned runs to propel the Thundering Herd past Southern Miss, 6-3 at Appalachian Power Park.
Sikula (5-2) scattered three hits while fanning five to help Marshall (15-20, 6-6 C-USA) win its second-straight Conference USA series.
Victor Gomez was a triple shy of the cycle in a 3-for-4 day at the dish and Kenny Socorro smacked two hits and collected two RBI to lead the offense.
USM (18-16, 2-7 C-USA) made the first mark placing an unearned run on the scoreboard when Adam Doleac came home on a RBI ground out by Isaac Rodriguez in the top of the second inning.
Neither team was able to make much of a stir in the batter's box as Sikula and Ryan MacNamara (1-1) were locked in a classic pitcher's duel into the sixth frame. The Golden Eagles pushed across a second unearned run when Taylor Walker squeaked a base hit through the left side to bring around Travis Creel from second to hold a 2-0 advantage.
The Herd finally pieced together an offensive attack against McNamara in the sixth, who had only allowed a V. Gomez single and Socorro double through the first five innings on the bump.
McNamara labored in the sixth with his control as he plunked Isaac Ballou and walked Ben Jurevicius to start the frame. Both runners moved into scoring position thanks to a wild pitch setting the stage for Socorro. The junior shortstop laced a base knock back through the box into centerfield scoring both runners to even the score. The MU offense would not stop there, as Kurt Lipton turned on a 1-0 pitch, which would be the last of the day for the USM starter, for a two-run missile to right field to take a 4-2 lead.
The bottom of the Herd lineup continued to give be a menace for the Black and Gold pitchers as Ballou and Jurevicius slapped consecutive base hits to start the seventh. Ballou would gallop home with the Herd's fifth run of the day when reliever Collin Cargill uncorked a wild pitch.
The Golden Eagles added a run in the eighth, but MU answered right back when V. Gomez tattooed a solo homer to right center, making the score 6-3. The deep fly was his 10th of the season and the 39th of his career, tying Jason Brooks (2000-01) for the all-time MU record.
Tyler Gatrell and Kyle Blank recored the three outs in the eighth in front of Austin Coan. The closer pumped a perfect ninth to earn his sixth save of season and moved into first place all-time in career saves (14) passing former Herd great Chris Meadows (2001-04).
