Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Rice
Baseball Falls to No. 25 Rice
5/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 7, 2010
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University baseball team lost game one of a three-game set with the No. 25 Rice Owls, 20-4 on Friday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park in Conference USA action.
The Thundering Herd now sits at 21-25 on the season and 10-9 in league play. The win ups the Owls to 29-16 and 12-4 in C-USA.
Leading 1-0 entering the top of the fifth frame, Rice erupted for eight runs to knock MU starter Ian Kadish (2-5) from the game. After Steven Sultzbaugh struck out to start the inning, nine consecutive batters reached base including a three-run homer from Anthony Rendon and a two-run bomb from Sultzbaugh to highlight the offensive for the Owls.
Through the first five innings for the Herd, the offensive rolled into three double plays against Rice ace Taylor Wall (4-4) as the left-hander evened his record on the season. Wall worked 6.2 innings for the Owls, scattering 11 base hits with three earned runs. The southpaw finished with four walks and two strikeouts for his outing.
Rice crossed home twice in the sixth and seventh frames. In the seventh, the Owls scored seven more runs by the use of just one hit.
MU outhit the Owls (15-12) but the Herd staff issued 12 free passes and the defense committed three miscues which proved to be the difference in the final score.
Four players for the Herd collected multi-hit contests, led by Rhett Stafford and Kurt Lipton. Stafford laced a solo homer and double, while Lipton went 3-for-4 with a RBI double. Victor Gomez and James Lavinskas each chipped in with a pair of singles.
The Herd will look to even the series on Saturday, which will serve as senior day for Austin Coan, Ryan Kiel, Tyler Gatrell, Kurt Lipton and Josh Valle.
