Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Brown
Pitching Leads @HerdBaseball to Doubleheader Sweep over Brown
3/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Game One Box Score (PDF) | Game Two Box Score (PDF) | Coach Waggoner Postgame Video
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall baseball earned a doubleheader sweep over the Brown Bears (1-5) on Saturday at the Kennedy Center Field with a 7-2 decision in game one, while taking game two, 2-0.
The Thundering Herd (7-6) was paced by its pitching staff once again, as senior JD Hammer (Fort Collins, Colo.) gave his bullpen a much needed rest with a complete game outing. Freshman Patrick Murphy (Massillon, Ohio) got the nod in the second game and delivered with five innings pitched with no runs allowed. In game two, Caleb Ross (Barboursville, W.Va.) and Burris Warner (Auburndale, Fla.) came in relief for Murphy.
Marshall's offense was just as good as it tallied 15 runs in the two games, including three hits from freshman Andrew Zban (Huntington, W.Va.) and senior Aaron Bossi (St. Louis, Mo.). Following up with two hits through the two games was Tyler Ratliff (Alexandria, Va.), Tommy Lane (Pendleton, Ore.) and Corey Bird (Elkview, W.Va.)
GAME ONE: Marshall 7, Brown 2
Marshall opened up things early on with two runs in the top of the first. Bird led the game off with a single, which was followed up with a stolen base and a walk by DJ Gee (Seattle). Bird and Gee went on to steal third and second to put both runners in scoring position for Marshall. Bossi converted on the opportunity with a two RBI single to center field.
In the third, Marshall added two more runs to give itself a four-run cushion through three. With runners on first and second, Ryne Dean (Fresno, Calif.) singled to right center to score. Later in the inning, Ratliff hit a sac-fly to deep left field to score Bossi.
The odd innings continued to favor the Herd, as it put another two runs on the board in the fifth inning. Zban singled up the middle to begin the inning. After a sac bunt to move him over, Bird singled to right field to score the freshman. Bird was active on the base path, as he advanced to second on the throw to home and then in the next at-bat stole third. Sam Finfer (Bellevue, Wash.) went on to hit a sac-fly to right field to score Bird.
Brown got two runs back in the sixth off a Rob Henry two-run home run. The Herd was able to push its lead to five in the following half inning with a bases loaded walk.
Hammer, who picked up his second win of the season, went the full nine innings with allowing two runs on four hits and four strikeouts. Hammer was throwing a no-hitter through the first four innings, but surrendered a double in the fifth inning.
GAME TWO: Marshall 2, Brown 0
Pitching went on to dominate the second game for both sides. For the Herd, Murphy earned his first collegiate start and win as he went five innings and allowed three hits and had three strikeouts. Brown's starter, Austin French, went seven innings with two runs allowed on four hits.
French's only mistake came in the fourth with one out. Finfer got things rolling for the Herd with a single through the right side. In the ensuing at-bat, Lane hit a blast to right center that easily cleared the fence for a two-run homer.
Once Murphy pitched the required five innings to earn the win, Marshall went to its bullpen and called upon Ross and Warner. Ross tossed three innings and only gave up two hits, while having two strikeouts. Warner earned his third save of the season with one inning pitched.
COACH'S CORNER
Quotes from Head Coach Jeff Waggoner
On Hammer's performanceââ'¬Â¦
"His performance set the tone for us. I told the guys that JD Hammer's performance saved the bullpen and gave us a chance to save a few guys for the second game."
On Murphy's performanceââ'¬Â¦
"Patrick has been pitching really well in inter-squads, and he's way beyond his years as far as a guy that knows how to pitch. He's going to be a really good pitcher here, and we expected that. We know that he is going to be a guy that goes out there and throws strikes and can mix up his pitches. He's not scared to go out there in his first start and do what he did."
UP NEXT
Marshall and Brown will wrap up the four-game series on Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Kennedy Center Field.
