Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Old Dominion
Hammer Hurls, Herd Hits in 5-1 Win
4/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Box PDF
NORFOLK, Va. - Explosive bats from the Herd offense and another brilliant outing from the starting pitcher gave Marshall baseball (13-24, 6-11 C-USA) Â its second consecutive Conference USA victory, trumping Old Dominion (17-21, 5-12 C-USA) 5-1 Saturday at Bud Matheny Baseball Complex.
Starting pitcher JD Hammer (Fort Collins, Colo.) tied a career-high with 7.1 innings, scattering five hits and picking up two strikeouts with no walks as he earned his first win of 2015. Hammer allowed one lone ODU run, which the Monarchs plated in the bottom of the sixth off two hits.
The Herd smashed out 14 hits in the contest, tying for the third most this season. Sophomore Corey Bird (Pinch, W.Va.) tied a career-high with four hits, including two doubles. He scored once and collected his 17th RBI of the season. Senior TJ Diffenderfer (Mount Juliet, Tenn.) turned in a 2-for-5 performance, raking in three RBI and hitting his team-high fourth home run. The first baseman has now tied his personal season total from last season, and brought Marshall to a collective 18 long balls on the season. This ties the season total from 2012, after the Herd already surpassed the sums from 2013 (10) and 2014 (7).
Junior Aaron Bossi (St. Louis, Mo.) also turned in another impressive day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and reaching base four times.
The game started a pitcher's duel, with both teams held scoreless for five full frames. In the top of the sixth, Diffenderfer led off the inning with a bomb that sailed straight over the left field fence to give the Herd the lead. MU came home another time that inning; Bossi singled up the middle for his third hit of the day, moved to third on a single from senior designated hitter Josh King (Troup, Ga.), and then came home on a double-play RBI groundout from freshman Tyler Ratliff (Alexandria, Va.).
Trailing 2-0, the Monarchs cut the lead in half after current C-USA Hitter of the Week PJ Higgins led off with a single, moved up two bases on a double, and came home on a groundout to second base.
With the narrow lead, the Herd remained in control, scoring three more times in the ninth to add to its bank.
Catcher Matt Reed (Purcellville, Va.) reached base on a fielder's choice, and then advanced to second on an infield single from right fielder Robert Fajardo (Miami). Bird then stepped to the plate and ripped his second double of the day, scoring Reed and pushing Fajardo to third.
With two outs, junior DJ Gee (Seattle) worked a nine-pitch walk to load the bases for Diffenderfer, who placed the ball perfectly through the left side gap to bring home both Fajardo and Bird and put Marshall in a demanding, and ultimately final, 5-1 lead.
Reliever Kolin Stanley (Beloit, Ohio) took over for Hammer in the seventh with one out and one on, and used just five pitches to force a thrilling third-to second-to first double play to avoid the Monarchs threat.
Marshall will look to close the deal on the series Sunday, with a start time of 1:05 at `the Bud'.
WAGGONER'S WORDS
Quotes from head coach Jeff Waggoner and Marshall players
Coach Waggoner
"What a great team win. We played a complete game, and I am very proud of these guys."
JD Hammer, Jr., Starting Pitcher
On the performance and morale of the team after the win
"We've really been piecing things together these last couple of series. It's easy to pitch to contact when you have that great defense behind you through all nine innings. I'm really proud of the way we have come together as a pitching staff and as a team as a whole. Everyone is executing pitches, playing with confidence, and finding ways to be successful. That's what it's going to take for us to make the [C-USA] tournament."
TJ Diffenderfer, Sr., First Baseman
On his clutch hitting performance
"On that home run, I was just trying to lead off the inning and get on base, but I was able to get in a good hitters' count and barrel up on an elevated fastball and it was just able to go out. In the second hit, the other guys did a great job getting on. DJ [Gee] had a great at bat before to draw that walk, and I was able to get the opportunity to hit and just put a good swing on the ball."
Corey Bird, So., Center Fielder
On the win and the way he's been hitting
"Our win yesterday gave us the confidence for today. We just came out and played and won the series. I've been working with Coach Waggoner on my hitting, and he's been helping me a lot about not trying to do too much but rather just stick to my strengths. Anything that helps the team is good for me."
