Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UAB
Herd Gets First C-USA Win, Splits Day with UAB
3/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Final Stats | Final Stats Game 2
Game 1 PDF | Game 2 PDF
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Marshall baseball (7-15, 1-5 C-USA) picked up its first conference win, splitting a doubleheader against UAB (12-9, 2-4 C-USA) Saturday at Regions Field in Birmingham, Ala.
Marshall defeated the Blazers 7-6 in 11 innings in Game 1, but fell 2-1 in the rubbermatch Saturday evening.
In Game 1, sophomore Corey Bird (Pinch, W.Va.) went 4-for-5 with a double, two runs and a RBI. Senior TJ Diffenderfer (Mount Juliet, Tenn.) was 2-for-4 at the plate, with two RBI and a run. Classmate Andrew Dundon (Lincoln Park, N.J.) also turned in two hits in the victory.
Starter JD Hammer (Fort Collins, Colo.) went 7.1 innings, striking out five and allowing just one walk. Senior Josh King (Troup, Ga.) in just his third appearance since returning to the mound, picked up his first save of the season and 10th all-time as he fanned two in the 11th.
In Game 2, starter Michael Taylor (St. Albans, W.Va.) took the loss, despite a career-high eight innings, career-high nine K's, allowing no walks, and facing just three batters over the minimum.
King went 3-for-4 in the finale, and Dundon hit his first triple of the season.
Game 1: Marshall 7, UAB 6 (11 innings)
The Herd started early, scoring in the second inning and adding three more runs in the 5th. Diffenderfer singled in the 2nd, and was sent home on a double down the right field line from sophomore Billy Sager (Kenova, W.Va.). Three Insurance runs came in the form of another Diffenderfer single, a single from freshman Austin Norman (Fairmont, W.Va.), a hit-by-pitch, a walk, and an error.
UAB cut the lead to one in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three times off three straight singles.
The Herd tacked on two in the 8th to increase the gap, scoring twice on hits from Dundon, Bird, and junior Robert Fajardo (Miami).
The Blazers again narrowed the lead, plating a run in the bottom of the frame. In the bottom of the ninth, a two-run shot from Mitch Williams tied the game and forced extra innings for the Herd the second time this season.
In the 11th, Bird singled to board, and a deep double to center field for senior Sergio Leon (Miami) sent Bird home, plating the ultimately winning run.
Game 2: UAB 2, Marshall 1
A pitching duel ensued in the rubber match, as both teams had a combined three hits heading into the 5th.
That was when UAB capitalized on two Herd errors, and used three hits to plate two.
Marshall replied the following inning with a run courtesy of another Leon double to get on, and a Diffenderfer sacrifice fly to score him.
The two runs proved to be enough for UAB to hold on for win, taking the series 2-1.
UP NEXT
Marshall will travel to former Mid-American Conference foe Ohio on Wednesday, March 25, at 6 p.m. in Athens, Ohio.
