Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Charlotte
Boster and Bossi Help Herd to a 5-1 Win Friday
4/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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BECKLEY, W.Va. -- In his first conference start of the season, junior right-hander Chase Boster (Stafford, Va.) delivered a fantastic pitching performance Friday night, leading Marshall baseball (10-22, 3-10 C-USA) to a 5-1 victory over Charlotte (12-15, 6-10 C-USA) at Epling Stadium in Beckley.
Boster allowed one run (unearned) in six innings, picking up six punchouts and scattering just three hits. Senior Matt Margaritonda (Freehold, N.J.), in his first relief appearance of the year, followed with a demanding performance of his own, working three perfect innings with four strikeouts.
Junior second baseman Aaron Bossi (St. Louis, Mo.) delivered perhaps the most clutch hit of the evening as he went 2-for-4 and provided the hit that put Marshall in the lead. Senior Josh King (Troup, Ga.) and junior Robert Fajardo (Miami) also collected two hits.
The Herd broke the blank in the bottom of the third, when sophomore catcher Matt Reed (Purcellville, Va.) launched his second home run of the season (and second in five games) to give MU the early 1-0 advantage.
The 49ers then tied the game in the sixth. A two-out double put designated hitter Danny Raley on, and then a passed ball moved him to third. A single from the Niners' Brad Elwood laced down the right field line sent Raley home to plate the equalizer.
Marshall then promptly responded in the bottom of that frame, scoring three times to take the lead and then add insurance. Walks to Corey Bird (Pinch, W.Va.) and DJ Gee (Seattle) led off the inning, and then a hit-by-pitch to TJ Diffenderfer (Mount Juliet, Tenn.) juiced the bases for Bossi.
He dropped a ball right in between the Charlotte first baseman and right fielder to bring Bird home. King was then beaned himself, bringing Gee across. Reed then collected his second RBI of the game after a fielder's choice sent Diffenderfer home for the Herd's third run of the inning.
Marshall was able to shut down Niners' Friday night man Sean Geogeghan, who had made two consecutive eight inning starts prior to his meeting with the Herd, who was pulled in the sixth.
MU added more insurance in the eighth inning, when Fajardo's single up the middle scored King, who had also singled.
Marshall and Charlotte will square off again Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
WAGGONER'S WORDS
Link to Coach Waggoner's post-game video interview
Aaron Bossi, Jr., Second Baseman
"It's great to help contribute to a long overdue team win. I think that with guys settling in at the plate and getting timely hits, along with pitchers coming in and filling up the zone, we played a really great game. As for me personally, I'm just trying to stay short with my swing and see pitches up. It's really helping my hitting with two strikes."
Matt Margaritonda, Sr., Relief Pitcher
"I thought our team was ready to play tonight, and we had a great week of practice where we prepared and got confident and it showed on the field today- offensively, defensively, and on the mound. I just tried to fill the zone up and trust my defense and it worked."
