Marshall University Athletics
@HerdBaseball Heads to Virginia Tech on Tuesday
2/20/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall baseball team will open up midweek play this week by heading south to Virginia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m.
ON THE MOUND
LHP Joshua Shapiro (4-5, 5.68 ERA)* vs. RHP Connor Coward (1-1, 7.42 ERA)*
* - 2016 stats
It will be the first start of the season for sophomore Joshua Shapiro. The Columbus, Ohio, native was a Conference USA All-Freshman selection last year. He pitched 65 innings and recorded 55 strikeouts. He was named C-USA Pitcher of the Week on April 18, 2016 after tossing seven shutout innings against No. 16 Florida Atlantic.
Virginia Tech's projected starting pitcher Connor Coward went 1-1 last season with three starts. The junior picked up his lone win against Alcorn State, while collecting his only loss against No. 5 Miami (Fla.). He has made one appearance this season against USC Upstate. He tossed one inning and allowed one hit.
HAVE YOU HERD?
Marshall (1-2) picked up its first win of the season on Sunday at Kennesaw State. The Thundering Herd was powered by a four-run third inning. Senior first baseman Tommy Lane led the team by going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Cory Garrastazu, Sam Finfer, Tyler Ratliff and Leo Valenti each had a RBI in the contest.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Hunter Sexton provided a strong performance from the bullpen this past weekend. Sexton made appearances against Georgia State and Kennesaw State. The Jackson, Ohio, native pitched 5.2 innings of shutout baseball and allowed three hits. He earned his first collegiate win over the Owls on Sunday.
SCOUTING THE HOKIES
Virginia Tech (3-0) had strong start to the season with a three-game series sweep over USC Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C. The Hokies won their opening day game 11-3, while winning 9-8 in the second game and 8-2 in the final matchup of the series. Virginia Tech was led by redshirt junior Sam Fragle at the plate, who went 7-for-13 with three home runs, one triple, one double and nine RBIs.
The Hokies were predicted to finish sixth in the Coastal Division in the 2017 ACC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
UP NEXT
Marshall heads to Western Carolina for a three-game series in Cullowhee, N.C. The Catamounts began the season with a 2-1 record, including a win over the reigning national champions Coastal Carolina.
