Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Virginia
No. 6 Virginia Outduels Herd Baseball, 1-0
3/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 8, 2011
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Senior Arik Sikula fired six innings allowing just an unearned run in the fourth frame, but Marshall was unable to cross home plate as the Thundering Herd fell to No. 6 Virginia, 1-0 on Tuesday afternoon at Davenport Field.
Sikula produced one of his best outings of his career, but yet was saddled with the tough-luck loss. Through his six innings of work, he scattered six hits, walked three and struck out two as Marshall dropped to 5-6 on the season.
Marshall outhit the Cavaliers, eight to seven but the one unearned run proved to be costly as UVA upped its record to 13-1.
Smithville, Va., native Isaac Ballou roped three hits including a double and Ben Jurevicius added a pair of base knocks to lead the offense.
RHP Will Roberts (2-0) earned the victory for UVA, logging the first six innings, surrendering four hits and striking out eight.
UVA tested Sikula in the bottom of the third when the Cavaliers loaded the bases after cleanup hitter Daniel Hultzen walked with two down and runners on second and third. Sikula escaped with still a clean slate in the runs category by getting Steven Proscia to pop up to second, ending the threat.
Leading off the fourth inning, Kenny Swab smacked a base hit that took a wicked hop over the head of third baseman Gray Stafford. The bounding ball was then misplayed in the outfield and rolled all the way to the leftfield wall, allowing Swab to advance to third base. John Barr was the next batter as he cracked the first run on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly to right.
The Cavaliers threatened again in the fifth frame, with two runners in scoring position and one down. An apparent sac fly to right field hit by Proscia turned in favor of the Herd when the runner on third scampered back to the base. Luckily for MU, the Cavaliers' runner on second took off for third and got caught in a rundown for an inning-ending double play, with UVA still leading 1-0.
In the top of the ninth, Jurevicius blooped a single to right with two outs to bring a glimmer of hope to the Herd. Unfortunately, UVA closer Branden Kline struck out the final batter of the game to earn the save and preserve the 1-0 victory.
NEXT UP: MU will play a four-game series at Ohio University, beginning Friday, March 11. First pitch is slated to 4 p.m.
GAME NOTES: Kenny Socorro started his 112th straight gameââ'¬Â¦.Ballou tied a career-high with three hitsââ'¬Â¦it marked the first time Marshall lost a 1-0 game since (2/27/09) vs. Tennessee Tech in Charleston, S.C.
