Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Eastern Kentucky
Baseball Captures EKU Colonels, 8-5
3/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 29, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Isaac Ballou roped a two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth to break 5-5 tie and the next batter, James Lavinskas, launched a two-run bomb to help push the Marshall University baseball team past Eastern Kentucky, 8-5 on Tuesday afternoon at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.
Marshall (10-13) received a perfect eighth inning from reliever Jesse Fernandez (2-1), with a pair of punch outs to earn the victory. Josh King continued his first season of excellence out of the pen by recording the final two outs of the game for his first career save.
EKU (7-18) righty reliever Matt Harris (0-2) was saddled with the loss.
The Herd jump-started its offensive attack in the top of the second with a leadoff walk by Rhett Stafford. The elder of the brotherly Stafford duo continued on to steal second with a graceful wrap around slide. Steven Ross, hampered by a stomach virus, turned in a quality at-bat, eventually moving Stafford over to third with a ground out to the two-bagger. This was a sight to see as the Herd played small ball to perfection with Kris Hecktor hitting an RBI ground ball to the second baseman to post the first run without the use of a hit.
The lead did not last long as MU relinquished their one-run cushion in the third inning. Bryan Soloman, the Colonels third basemen, hit a ball to his counterpart, reaching on a throwing error. Hecktor redeemed himself at the hot corner throwing out the next batter, on a sacrifice bunt, allowing Soloman to move into scoring position. Later in the inning, EKU plated two runs on a Richie Rodriguez double to left to take a 2-1 lead.
The bottom of the Herd's lineup dabbled with small ball again, as Ross drew a walk and stole second to lead off the next inning. The junior college transfer then advanced to third before Lexington, Ky., native Louie Helmburg hit a run-scoring groundball back to the pitcher, evening the score.
The Colonels held a 4-2 lead entering the top of the sixth after pushing across a run in the fourth and fifth frames.
The eight hole deemed valuable for the MU attack as Thor Meeks, hitting in place of Helmburg launched a two-run towering bomb over the left-centerfield wall, to knot the score at four apiece. Even with the new collegiate bats, this ball was a no doubter as the Hurricane native would rise and fire in his pinch hit opportunity.
The momentum continued for the Green and White as Ballou produced his own run by reaching base on a single to left center. He showcased his blazing speed by promptly swiping and second and third, before racing home on a throwing error by the EKU catcher in a failed attempt to catch Ballou on the base paths.
The lead would be short lived once again as EKU received a RBI single from Michael Garica to bring the score squared in the seventh. With the possibility of taking a late-inning lead looming, Ballou silenced the attack as he tracked down a line drive to centerfield and then fired a bullet to first base doubling up the EKU base runner to end the inning.
After the Herd took its biggest lead of the day in the ninth inning at 8-5, Kyle Blank entered the game. The southpaw struck out a batter that was sandwiched around by a walk and single before being lifted for King. The freshman phenom made easy work of the Colonels retiring the next two batters, securing the victory.
Herd starter Aaron Blair, who did not figure in the decision, tossed the first four innings giving up three runs (all unearned) off just two hits while striking out five.
NEXT UP: Marshall travels to Houston to play Rice for a three game Conference USA series, starting Friday.
