Marshall University Athletics
@HerdBaseball Set to Start Conference USA Tournament Wednesday
5/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Bracket | Game Notes
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Second-seeded Marshall baseball (32-19, 21-9 Conference USA) is set to begin the 2016 C-USA Tournament on Wednesday as the Thundering Herd will play the seventh-seeded FIU Panthers (27-27, 15-15 C-USA) at 8:30 p.m. (ET) at Pete Taylor Park.
HAVE YOU HERD?
The Herd makes its first appearance in the Conference USA Tournament since 2010. Marshall is led by five players that have recorded more than 60 hits, the most since the 2008 season. Senior Aaron Bossi (St. Louis) leads the Herd with 67 hits, while DJ Gee (Seattle) ranks second with 63. Tyler Ratliff (Alexandria, Va.), Tommy Lane (Pendleton, Ore.) and Corey Bird (Elkview, W.Va.) each have 61.
The Herd has become an offensive powerhouse this season, specifically in home runs. Marshall ranks 23rd in the country in homers with 56, and holds the 17th spot in homers per game at 1.10. The Herd had a conference-high 36 home runs in league play.
Marshall has work to do if it hopes to make the NCAA Tournament, according to BaseballAmerica.com. In the latest projections of the 64-team tournament, the Herd is among the "next four out." Marshall has a RPI of 64.
ON THE MOUND
Getting the nod on Wednesday night will be senior Chase Boster (7-2, 3.55 ERA). The Stafford, Va., native enters the tournament with a 6-1 conference record and has won his last five starts. Boster leads the Herd with 70 strikeouts and 91.1 innings pitched this season.
Also expected to make starts this week are junior Parker Danciu (5-3, 5.23 ERA) and senior JD Hammer (4-2, 4.74 ERA). Danciu has been strong in his last three outings, pitching a combined 22 innings with only five earned runs for a 2.05 ERA. The Palm Beach, Fla., product is 2-0 with 12 strikeouts through the previous three games. Hammer has been working his way back from an upper body injury, but put in a strong performance at WKU by tossing six innings and didn't allow an earned run.
If the Herd is up by three or fewer runs in the ninth, expect junior closer Burris Warner to make the trot from the bullpen to the mound. The Auburndale, Fla., native leads the Herd with 10 saves this season, including six in league play. In conference, Warner has a 2.49 ERA with 19 strikeouts.
LOOKING AT HERD SIDE OF THE BRACKET
Marshall will play against the FIU Panthers in the first round of the tournament, and will play either the No. 3 Southern Miss Golden Eagles (36-18, 20-10 C-USA) or the No. 6 Old Dominion Monarchs (32-22, 15-15 C-USA) in the following round. The Thundering Herd took two of three games against the Panthers and Monarchs, while only winning once against the Golden Eagles.
ON THE AIR
Games this week can be heard on the Thundering Herd IMG Sports Network with Steve Cotton on ESPN Radio FMs 93.3 and 94.1, and also on AMs 930 and 1340. The radio call will be streamed live on wrvc.com and on tunein.com. Fans can also download the streaming app for their iOS and Android devices off the wrvc.com website.
C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT
The 2016 Conference USA Championship will return to Hattiesburg, Miss., for the sixth time in the league's history. Southern Miss also hosted the 2015, 2014, 2009, 2005 and 1996 C-USA Championships at Pete Taylor Park. The Championship will feature the top eight teams in regular-season league play and the format returns to two double-elimination brackets, with a single-elimination championship game.
Game Schedule (All ET)
Wednesday, May 25
Game 1: (5) Louisiana Tech vs. (4) Rice - 10 a.m.
Game 2: (8) Charlotte vs. (1) Florida Atlantic - 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: (6) Old Dominion vs. (3) Southern Miss - 5 p.m.
Game 4: (7) FIU vs. (2) Marshall - 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 26
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 - 10 a.m.
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 - 1:30 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 - 5 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 - 8:30 p.m.
Friday, May 27
Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 7 - 4:00 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 8 - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 28
Game 11: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9 - 10 a.m.
Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10 - 1:30 p.m.
Game 13: Same teams as Game 11 - 5 p.m. (if necessary)
Game 14: Same teams as Game 12 - 8:30 p.m.(if necessary)
Sunday, May 29 (televised by CBS Sports Network)
Championship Game - 2 p.m.
---HerdZone.com---
