Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UTSA
@HerdBaseball Suffers Walk-Off Loss at UTSA
4/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
SAN ANTONIO - Marshall baseball (16-13, 6-5 C-USA) suffered a 5-4 walk-off defeat at the hands of the UTSA Roadrunners (12-18, 3-8 C-USA) on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
The Thundering Herd struck in the top of the first as Sophomore Tyler Ratliff (Alexandria, Va.) had a single to left field with runners on the corners to score DJ Gee (Seattle) from third.
UTSA was quick to respond with three runs over the next two innings. In the bottom of the first, the Roadrunners hit a two-run home run to left field. In the ensuing inning, UTSA added a run with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Marshall cut its deficit to one run in the top of the fifth off an Aaron Bossi (St. Louis) double to center field that scored Gee from third.
The Herd completed the comeback in the next inning with a Leo Valenti (Olympia, Wash.) single up the middle that scored a hustling Ryne Dean (Fresno, Calif.) from second.
The lead wouldn't last long as UTSA connected on its second home run of the game with a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the sixth.
Reynaldo Pastrana (Miami) started a Herd rally in the eighth inning with a double down the left field line. After Andrew Zban (Huntington, W.Va.) pinch ran for Pastrana, Dean singled to the shortstop that scored Zban to tie the game at four.
The game would go into the bottom of the ninth tied at four, but with the bases loaded and one out, UTSA's Ryan Stacy hit a single into left field that scored the winning run.
Starting pitcher Parker Danciu (2-2) is credited with the loss after going 8.1 innings with five runs allowed on eight hits. Danciu had three strikeouts. Andre Shewcraft moves to 4-3 with the win in relief.
Seniors Dean and Bossi led the way at the plate for Marshall with three hits and a RBI each. Ratliff finished the day going 2-for-5 with a RBI.
Up next, Marshall and UTSA will meet for the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday at Noon (ET). Senior JD Hammer (3-2) will get the start for the Herd.
