Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Kentucky
Baseball Tames Kentucky Wildcats, 6-4
2/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 19, 2011
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The Marshall University baseball team snapped a 2-2 tie in the bottom of eighth by crossing home four times and would hold on to defeat Kentucky, 6-4, on Saturday night at Patriots Point Stadium.
Victor Ramos roped a two-run double to cap off the big eighth frame as the senior, in his first career start, finished 2-for-4 as Marshall improved to 2-0 on the season. Senior Ben Jurevicius had two hits and scored twice, while Thor Meeks knocked in a pair as the Thundering Herd beat Kentucky for the first time since 2004.
"It's a good win against a SEC opponent and I'm really proud of the way the guys played tonight," head coach Jeff Waggoner said. "But we won't be satisfied unless we win the tournament. College of Charleston has a strong team and will be a good challenge for us tomorrow."
Herd starter Mike Mason looked dominate in his first start of the 2011 campaign. The lefthander worked the first five frames, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits with seven punch outs, including four in a row, as he struck out the side in the second.
Kentucky (0-2) received a solid outing from lefty starter Taylor Rogers, who worked six innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and did not figure in the decision. Reliever Trevor Gott was saddled with the loss as he gave up four runs (none earned) in two frames.
DH Luke Maile paced the Wildcats offense with two hits and two RBI.
The Herd came out of the gates swinging by scoring a pair of runs off four-straight hits in the bottom half of the first.
Jurevicius lined a one-out double to left-centerfield to get the Herd rolling. Victor Gomez followed by slapping a base knock to right, putting UK starter Rogers in trouble. Meeks didn't take long as he tattooed the first pitch he saw off the Wildcats' first baseman Braden Kapteyn into rightfield, plating Jurevicius for a RBI single. On a 0-2 count, Rhett Stafford launched a ball to dead centerfield, sending Meeks home from first, taking a 2-0 cushion to the second.
Mason looked nearly untouchable through the first three frames on the hill. Over the first third of the contest, the Maumee, Ohio native allowed just one base runner, a walk in the first, and struck out five Wildcats, including striking out the side (all swinging) in the second.
UK finally cracked the scoreboard against Mason in the fourth. After the lefty retired the first two batters, the Wildcats strung together three consecutive hits, highlighted by a RBI single from Maile. UK would knot the score, 2-2, when Maile scurried home on a passed ball.
As both pitching staffs were matching each other pitch-for-pitch, the Herd put up a crooked number of its own in the eighth after not scoring since the first inning. Leadoff man Isaac Ballou jump started the silenced MU offense by roping a double down the leftfield line.
With runners on the corners and one down, Meeks hit a fly ball to shallow leftfield, but Ballou exploded home, easily beating the throw to take the one-run lead. UK opted to intentionally walk pinch hitter Nathan Gomez, who was pinch run for by the Herd's super-sub Justin Maynard.
Next up for MU was sophomore Gray Stafford. The Cheraw, S.C. native had struggled at the dish earlier in the contest, but came through when it counted lacing a two-out RBI single to left center, his first career hit at Marshall. Ramos followed by smacking a two-run double into the rightfield corner, which proved to be the difference in the final score.
The Wildcats rallied in the ninth, scoring twice, but reliever Ian Kadish retired Lucas Witt, who was the tying run at the plate, with a fly out to secure the victory.
Joe Church (1-0) earned his first collegiate win, working a perfect eighth inning, recording two strikeouts. True freshman Josh King fired two scoreless innings in place of Mason as the Herd pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts and only issued one free pass on the night.
NEXT UP: MU takes the diamond against College of Charleston (2-0) on Sunday at Patriots Point Stadium. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. with live stats and live video stream available by logging onto HerdZone.com.
Notes: Marshall is now 13-29 all-time against Kentucky...the win against the Wildcats was the first since 2004, snapping a three-game losing streak to UK...Jurevicius collected his 100th career hit...Mason now has 99 career strikeouts...Kenny Socorro started his 103rd straight game.
