Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
ETSU
@HerdBaseball Downs ETSU for Fifth Straight Win
3/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Final Stats | Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Interview
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The Marshall baseball team earned its fifth straight win Wednesday night by defeating ETSU, 9-3, at Thomas Stadium.
The Thundering Herd improves to 6-5, while the Buccaneers fall to 7-5.
Marshall struck first in the game by scoring three runs in the third inning. Sam Finfer worked a four-pitch walk with two outs. Tyler Ratliff followed with a single to left field. Tommy Lane drove in both runners with a line drive that hit off the center field wall for a double. Lane later came around to score on a Reynaldo Pastrana single to shallow right field.
The Thundering Herd added three runs in the fifth. Marshall loaded the bases with three consecutive singles to the left side. ETSU gave up the first run on a throwing error by the pitcher on a ground ball that let Billy Sager to score. In the next at-bat, Shane Hanon grounded out to the second baseman, but drove in Finfer. Marshall got its third run of the inning on a passed ball that scored Ratliff.
Runs kept coming in threes for the Herd. Leo Valenti led off the sixth inning with a single to center field. Valenti advanced to second on a wild pitch during the following at-bat. Later in the inning, Finfer drove in Valenti with a single to right field. Ratliff cleared the bases with a two-run homer to right field.
ETSU got on the board in the sixth and ninth inning. The Buccaneers scored two runs off a ground out and a passed ball in the sixth. ETSU scored in the ninth on a fielder's choice ground out to second.
Will Ray made his first appearance on the mound for the Herd this season and was lights out. The junior picked up his first win, as he went five shutout innings with six strikeouts. He allowed four hits and turned one double play.
In relief of Ray was Parker Beine and Brad O'Connor. O'Connor earned his second save by throwing three innings with one strikeout.
Finfer, Ratliff and Lane led the way at the plate for the Herd. Finfer and Ratliff each had three hits and three runs scored in the contest. Lane was 2-of-5 with two RBIs and one run scored.
COACH'S CORNER
Quotes by head coach Jeff Waggoner
On Will Rayââ'¬Â¦
"It's really good to see Will Ray come out in his first appearance of the year and throw a shutout through five innings. He really gave us confidence to be in that game. He's been working hard at being a two-way player and it showed today."
On Ratliff, Finfer and Laneââ'¬Â¦
Tyler Ratliff, Sam Finfer and Tommy Lane have been working hard on their swing and it's starting to show. It's good to see the middle of our lineup drive in the runs. That's what the middle of the lineup does. We got guys on and they did a good job with runners in scoring position.
#OneHerd
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UP NEXT
Marshall welcomes Niagara to the Kennedy Center Field on Route 2 for a three-game series. The Thundering Herd and Purple Eagles will open the series on Thursday at 3 p.m. The series continues on Friday at 2 p.m. and concludes on Saturday at 1 p.m.
