Marshall University Athletics
Baseball Hosts Houston for C-USA Weekend Showdown
4/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 14, 2011
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall University baseball team welcomes the University of Houston for a three-game Conference USA series beginning with a doubleheader on Friday at Power Park in Charleston, W.Va. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. The two squads will take Saturday off due to inclement weather projected for the area, and will resume play with the series finale on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Marshall enters the series 13-18 overall and 1-5 in league play, while the visiting Cougars are a game under .500 at 17-18, and 4-2 in C-USA action.
UH has been a thorn in the Herd's side since MU joined C-USA for the 2006 season, holding a 15-3 all-time edge and took three-of-four meetings in 2010, including an 11-7 victory in the conference tournament.
Both squads have lost to two-of-three at home to the C-USA leading UAB Blazers, who sit atop the league standings with a 6-3 record.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1: Friday, 4 p.m.
UH: RHP Matt Creel (4-4, 6.10 ERA)
MU: RHP Aaron Blair (0-2, 4.35 ERA)
Inside the Matchup: Creel is a two-way player that has converted from the team's closer in 2010 to a weekend starter in his senior season. Not only does he lead the team with four victories, but ranks third in RBI with 20. He was roughed up in last start, yielding eight earned runs off nine hits in 4.2 innings against UAB.
Blair will make just his fourth start of the season, after suffering a tough-luck loss against Georgia Southern a week ago. Blair worked just two-thirds of an inning before heavy rain and lightning caused the game to be postponed. The true-freshman did not return to pitch on Sunday as he gave up two earned runs and was saddled with the loss. In six total appearances, Blair has tossed 10.1 innings with 10 strikeouts and is holding opponents to a .256 batting average.
Game 2: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
UH: LHP Jordan Lewis (3-1, 4.14 ERA)
MU: LHP Mike Mason (1-2, 4.81 ERA)
Inside the Matchup: In a battle of southpaws, Mason looks to build off a strong relief appearance against Georgia Southern last Sunday. Mason tossed a season-high 6.1 frames against the Eagles, allowing three earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts in the restarted game in which Blair suffered the loss. Last season in his start against the Cougars, Mason worked a career-long seven frames with seven strikeouts to earn the victory.
Lewis is tied with a team-high nine starts and logged a team-best 45.2 innings on the bump. The soft throwing lefty makes opponents put the ball in play has he was struck out just 24 and issued 15 free passes.
Game 3: Sunday, 11 a.m.
UH: RHP Mo Wiley (2-1, 4.01 ERA)
MU: RHP Arik Sikula (2-3, 3.07 ERA)
Inside the Matchup: Sikula came within one out of throwing his first career complete game, as he went 8.2 innings against Georgia Southern last Sunday. Besides a tough outing against Rice, Sikula has been dominant on the bump for the Herd as he is holding opponents to a .224 batting average against him with 42 strikeouts in 44.0 innings. Over his last six appearances, five starts, the senior righty owns a 1.04 ERA giving up just 24 hits in 34.2 innings and allowing just four earned runs (all in the start against Rice).
Wiley will make his sixth start of 2011, as he too forces the opposition swing the bat, striking out 16 and walking nine in 33.2 innings. Opponents are hitting .282 against him this season.
HEATING UP
Marshall enters the series with a three-game winning streak and has put some impressive numbers over its last five games. During the previous five diamond tilts, the Herd is hitting at a robust .342 average, while slugging .483.
Leading the offense has been the sudden emergence of sophomore Gray Stafford. During this five-game span, the third baseman is hitting an impressive .556 (10-for-18) with two doubles, one triple and his first round tripper in a Herd uniform. Not only is he slugging .944 and getting on base at a .556 clip, he has totaled 17 bases and made 13 assists in the field at the hot corner.
Just behind G.Stafford has been the break out of Victor Gomez. The senior slugger has struggled at times at the dish, but has shown why he holds school records for hits, homers, RBI and total bases. Gomez is hitting .467 (7-for-15), scored four times with three doubles, a triple and four RBI, starting four of the last five contests.
The pitching staff has stepped as well, posting a team ERA of 3.60 during the stretch, striking out nearly a batter-per-inning, including a seven-inning shutout against Coppin State on Wednesday. The MU arms are holding the opposition to a .258 batting average against them during the last five.
MULTIMEDIA
All three games will have GameTracker coverage, along with live video streaming and internet radio courtesy of WMUL (88.1 FM) on HerdZone.com. Not at your computer? WRVC 930 AM/94.1 FM will also be calling the games with Steven Cotton, Woody Wodrum and Adam Cavalier.
