Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Memphis
Marshall Drops Doubleheader to Memphis
4/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 3, 2010
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - On a day that saw a total of 52 runs on 69 hits the Marshall University baseball team was unable to outscore the Memphis Tigers as the Thundering Herd was swept in a doubleheader by scores of 10-8 and 21-13 in Conference USA action on Saturday afternoon at Power Park.
Marshall now sits at 11-15 overall and 2-4 against C-USA opponents after losing two-of-three in the series to Memphis (13-15, 4-2 C-USA).
Kurt Lipton was a bright spot offensively registering five hits in nine plate appearances with five runs scored with a double, triple, homer and seven RBI.
Game 1: Memphis 10, Marshall 8
Neither team was able to crack the scoreboard through the first two frames, until the Tigers made some noise in the top of the third. The ninth-placed hitter in the Memphis lineup Derrick Thomas smacked a base hit to start the rally. Leadoff hitter Drew Martinez followed with a double past a drawn in James Lavinskas at the hot corner. Thomas crossed home on a RBI ground out from Tyler Huelsing and Rick Russell launched a two-run homer to left to give the Tigers a three-run advantage.
The Herd responded by putting Tigers' hurler Ryan Fraser (3-0) on the hot seat by batting around in the bottom of the third. MU loaded the bases with one out in the frame. Fraser buckled down and was able to retire Victor Gomez, before Lipton tattooed a 1-1 pitch over the head of Memphis centerfielder Martinez for a bases clearing triple. On the next pitch, Lipton jogged home when Chris Norton dunked a single to center to take a one-run lead, 4-3.
In the top of the fifth, Memphis decided to unleash some thunder of its own against MU as Jacob Wilson connected for two-out grand slam to left-center field, capping off a five-run inning to own an 8-4 cushion.
The Tigers pushed the lead to 10-4 on a two-run round tripper by Chad Zurcher in the sixth.
The MU bats were silenced by Fraser from the third inning to the eighth. The Herd finally got some action on the base paths in the eighth when Kirby Pellant lined a two-run double to right. In the ninth Lipton launched a two-run no doubt bomb to right center, but it was not enough as the Herd dropped the game 10-8.
Mike Mason (2-3) was saddled with the loss working the first 4.2 innings picking up a pair of strikeouts.
Lipton finished 2-for-5 with a career-high five RBI, while Kenny Socorro (2-for-5), Lavinskas (2-for-4), Nathan Gomez (3-for-3) and Norton (2-for-4) all tallied multi-hit days at the plate.
Game 2: Memphis 21, Marshall 13
The Herd cashed in early against Memphis starter Ryan Holland, slotting in a nickel on the scoreboard. Pellant drew a four-pitch walk in front of consecutive singles from Socorro and Lavinskas to put the sacks packed. Cleanup hitter V.Gomez lined a drooping liner to plate Pellant and keep the bases loaded. The RBI marked the 140th of V.Gomez's career, making him the all-time leader in MU history in that category, surpassing Dave McAnallen (1988-91) who collected 139 during his four-year career with the Herd.
Lipton continued his hot hitting from the first game, spanking a two-run single to right. Norton brought in a run with ground out prior to N. Gomez lacing a RBI single to give the Herd the early 5-0 edge.
The long ball continued to be a dangerous weapon for the Tigers, as Adam McClain launched a solo homer in the second to spark a two-run inning and Tyler Huelsing connected for bases empty deep fly in the third, with the Herd still leading 5-3.
Lipton was a menace yet again at the plate, roping a double to put himself and V. Gomez in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth. After Norton walked, V.Gomez raced home on a passed ball and Lipton scored on a N. Gomez ground out, upping the score to 7-3.
The tides turned for MU as Memphis erupted for 18 runs over the final four innings, including an aggressive six spot in the seventh to take the game and hold off a late charge, 21-13.
Lavinskas, V.Gomez and Lipton all slapped three hits in the game. Thor Meeks launched a double and homer and four RBI, while N. Gomez had two hits, three RBI and Maynard added a pair of safeties.
Arik Sikula logged 5.1 innings on the mound with seven strikeouts. Reliever Tyler Gatrell (1-2) was tagged with the loss for the Herd.
Tigers' leftfielder Huelsing had an unbelievable game at the plate, going 6-fo-6 with three homers, four runs scored and eight RBI.
Memphis reliever Heath Hatfield (3-2) picked up the win not allowing an earned run in 3.0 innings out of the pen.
