Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
No. 22 Florida Atlantic
Herd Drops Friday Contest to No. 22 Florida Atlantic
4/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Box PDF
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Marshall baseball (9-19, 2-8 C-USA) dropped the opening game of a three-game series with No. 22 Florida Atlantic (24-6, 7-3 C-USA) Friday, falling 9-4.
Sophomore Matt Reed (Purcellville, Va.) turned in his best hitting show of the season, launching his first home run of his Herd career and ripping an RBI double in a 2-for-4 performance. Sophomore Corey Bird (Pinch, W.Va.) and junior Ryne Dean (Fresno, Calif.) also collected two hits apiece.
The Owls attacked quickly, plating three runs in the first inning to take the early lead.
Marshall chipped away, scoring one run in each the second, third, and fourth innings. Reed got the Herd on the board in the second with his homer, sending the ball soaring over the left field fence.
In the next frame, Bird singled to lead off the inning, moved up to second courtesy of a FAU error, and took third on a passed ball. He then scored on an RBI groundout from junior DJ Gee (Seattle).
In the fourth inning, Reed ripped a double up the middle, allowing Josh King (Troup, Ga.) , who boarded by a hit-by-pitch, to come home.
With the game tied at three all, the Owls then ignited for three runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, and two more in the seventh to take the lead and remain in control.
Marshall scored again in the eighth, after junior Robert Fajardo (Miami) started the inning off with a double, moved up to third on another Owl miscue, and then scored after a Bird groundout.
The Herd will face FAU for the second game of the series on Saturday, as televised by American Sports Network. Check local listings. First pitch is slated for a 1:05 p.m. start.
