Marshall University Athletics
@HerdBaseball Set for Midweek Contest against Eastern Kentucky
3/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall baseball looks to get back to its winning ways with a midweek contest against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels on Tuesday at the Kennedy Center Field on Route 2. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
The Herd is coming off its first weekend of C-USA action, against Southern Miss in Charleston. Marshall went 1-2 in the series. In Game 2, Sam Finfer hit a three-run home run to right field as the Herd won, 10-8.
The Herd is led by first baseman Tommy Lane, who holds a 16-game hit streak that began in the third game at Florida A&M. In C-USA, the junior's 16-game streak trails WKU's Danny Hudzina, with 24 games and Rice's Ford Proctor at 18 games. Lane is batting .351 with 19 RBIs. The Pendleton, Ore., native ranks No. 22 in hitting and is first in conference with six home runs.
Marshall has found success on the basepaths as it leads C-USA in stolen bases with 32. On the bases, the Herd is paced by Corey Bird and DJ Gee. Bird leads the team in stolen bases with 11, while Gee follows up with nine. Bird ranks No. 22 in the nation and Gee is No. 45.
On the mound for the Herd will be left-handed pitcher Joshua Shapiro (0-1). Shapiro has made eight appearances with two starts. He has tossed 15.1 innings with eight strikeouts.
Eastern Kentucky enters the game with a 10-10 record, including a 16-12 win over No. 13 Mississippi State on March 15. The Colonels are led by senior infielder Mandy Alvarez with a .389 batting average (37-for-95). Alvarez leads the team with six home runs and 25 RBIs. Right-handed pitcher Chris Cervantes will make his second start on the mound.
Up next, Marshall returns to Conference USA action when it travels to Miami for a three-game series at FIU. The first game is scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
