Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UTSA
Four-Run Eighth Inning Leads @HerdBaseball Past UTSA
4/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
SAN ANTONIO - Marshall baseball (17-13, 7-5 C-USA) was powered by a four-run eighth inning to give itself a 5-2 win over the UTSA Roadrunners (12-19, 3-9 C-USA) in the series' rubber match at Roadrunner Field. The Thundering Herd has won its last three Conference USA series.
It was a pitcher's duel throughout the first six innings of the ballgame. Marshall's starting pitcher JD Hammer (Fort Collins, Colo.) went six innings and allowed only one run on five hits. Hammer had five strikeouts. UTSA's starter Chance Kirby (0-3) went 7.1 innings with three earned runs on five hits. Kirby didn't allow a run until the sixth inning.
The Roadrunners found a way to get on the board in the bottom of the first. Catcher Mason George hit a double to right-center field to score Matt Hilston from first.
The Thundering Herd finally struck in the top of the sixth with a solo home run by Ryne Dean (Fresno, Calif.) to right field. It was the senior's first home run of the season.
After a 40 minute lightning delay, Marshall's bats came alive in the eighth. Tyler Ratliff (Alexandria, Va.) got things started with a double to left field for two RBIs that scored Aaron Bossi (St. Louis) and Tommy Lane (Pendleton, Ore.) In the next at-bat, Sam Finfer (Bellevue, Wash.) singled through the right side to score Robert Fajardo (Miami). Marshall added its fourth run off the inning on a Cory Garrastazu (Miami) groundout to shortstop that scored Ratliff.
The Roadrunners added a run in the bottom of the eighth off a sacrifice fly to center field.
Burris Warner (Auburndale, Fla.) nailed down UTSA in the bottom of the ninth to close out the win. Warner moves to 1-0 with the victory.
UP NEXT
Marshall welcomes the Florida Atlantic Owls to Epling Stadium in Beckley, W.Va. for a three-game series from April 15-17. FAU is No. 12 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll, while is No. 17 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll.
