Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Memphis
Baseball Tames Memphis Tigers, 7-4
4/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 3, 2010
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Ian Kadish pitched 6.0 strong innings, freshmen Kirby Pellant and Chris Norton each collected two hits and James Lavinskas hit what proved to be a game-winning two-run single in the seventh to help the Marshall University baseball team defeat Memphis, 7-4 in Conference USA action on Friday night at Power Park.
Kadish, who did not figure in the decision, worked the first six frames allowing only three hits and two earned runs and firing a career-best eight strikeouts for Marshall (11-3, 2-2 C-USA) on the mound. Tyler Gatrell (1-1) worked 1.1 scoreless innings of relief to earn his first victory of the season and Austin Coan shut the door in the ninth for his fourth save.
Memphis (11-15, 2-2 C-USA) starter Brennon Martin (1-3) was saddled with the loss. The reigning C-USA Pitcher of the Week gave up five runs, only three earned, with four walks and three strikeouts pitching into the seventh inning.
Offensively, Pellant was the catalyst at the top of the Herd order. The Chandler, Ariz., native finished 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and three runs scored. Chris Norton chipped in with a 2-for-4 day, making his first start in the outfield, while Lavinskas, Kurt Lipton, Justin Maynard and Kenny Socorro each collected RBI hits.
Both starters did not fare well to start off the game as each club scored a run in the first inning against each team's ace. Memphis leadoff man Drew Martinez walked, stole second and eventually scored on a RBI single to right from Tyler Huelsing to notch the first run of the evening.
The Herd answered right back when Pellant, who started the inning with a base knock, raced home on a two-out Tiger miscue to knot the score, 1-1.
Pellant stayed in on the action, knocking in Ben Jurevicius with a RBI ground out to second base to give the Herd the 2-1 edge.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Nathan Gomez drew a one-out walk followed by a single from Jurevicius, setting the stage for Maynard. The centerfielder, making only his second start of the season, launched a double over the Memphis rightfielder, plating N.Gomez with the Herd's third run. Martin was able to work the rest of the frame unscathed to keep the Tigers within two runs.
Chad Zurcher took it upon himself to get the Tigers back in the game. The Memphis shortstop hit a sac fly in the top of the fifth and later knocked in two more on a two-run double to dead center to turn the game in the Tigers favor, 4-3.
The Herd would not be denied, batting around in the bottom half of the seventh scoring three times by the way of three hits. Maynard and Pellant started the rally with back-to-back walks, with both runners moving up thanks to a sacrifice bunt from Socorro. Up stepped Lavinskas who had entered the previous half inning at third base. The junior smoked a two-run base hit to right field to retake the lead for the Herd. He would later score on a single from Lipton, upping the MU advantage, 6-4.
MU pushed across an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Pellant continued to be a nuisance at the dish for the Tigers staff, stroking a hustle double to left with one down in the frame. After the speedy second baseman moved up 90-feet thanks to a wild pitch, Socorro dunked a single over a drawn in infield to take a 7-4 lead.
In the top of the ninth, Memphis put the pressure on closer Austin Coan. The first two batters reached on infield singles, before Coan retired the side to earn the save and secure the Herd victory.
