Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
FIU
@HerdBaseball Drops Series to FIU
4/23/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BECKLEY, W.Va. - After fog forced the final game of the series to be suspended on Saturday, it took one minute and nine seconds on Sunday morning to complete the Marshall baseball's 4-3 loss to the FIU Panthers at Linda K. Epling Stadium.
The game was halted in the bottom of the ninth with two outs following a Tommy Lane single to left field that scored Shane Hanon. The FIU left fielder was unable to see the ball to make a play due to fog that blanketed the field.
The Thundering Herd falls to 19-21 (8-10 Conference USA). Starting pitcher Jacob Niggemeyer (2-2) was credited with the loss. The junior pitcher went six innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits. The Panthers improve to 25-16 (10-8 C-USA). FIU starting pitcher Alex Demchak (3-0) earned his third win of the season by throwing six innings with one run allowed on three hits. Relief pitcher Robert Garica picked up his first save.
"We need to have better team baseball," head coach Jeff Waggoner said. "We're going to need a great preparation week to get back on track. The seniors need to step up and lead. We have a tough week ahead with a great Morehead State team and a really good Old Dominion team."
FIU got on the board first in the top of the fourth. Zack Soria led off the inning with a double down the left field line. He was moved over to third on a Kenny Meimerstorf sacrifice bunt. JC Escarra drove in Soria with a double down the right field line that was just out of the reach of Lane's glove at first.
The Panthers extended their lead in the top of the fifth with a pair of runs. Kobe Lopez worked a walk to lead off the inning. Adam Sevario hit a sacrifice bunt to move Lopez into scoring position at second. Irving Lopez capitalized with a single to left field, scoring the runner from second. After Jack Schaaf reached on a fielder's choice, he stole second and then advanced home on a throwing error by the Herd catcher.
Marshall got a run back in the bottom of the sixth inning. Tyler Ratliff was walked with two outs. Sam Finfer followed with a double down the left field line that scored Ratliff from first.
FIU pushed its lead back to three runs in the top of the seventh. Irving Lopez hit a two-out triple to right field. In the next at-bat, Schaaf hit his own triple to right field that scored Lopez. After seven innings, the Panthers led 4-1.
Marshall started to rally in the bottom of the ninth as the fog began to creep onto the field. Finfer hit his second double of the game with one out. Hanon subsequently hit a single through the left side, putting runners on the corners. Reynaldo Pastrana drove in Finfer from third with a RBI groundout to the shortstop. FIU made the call to the bullpen to bring Dominic LoBrutto to face Lane with two outs. Lane scored Hanon from second with an RBI single to left field.
The game was suspended for the night after the Lane single, and resumed Sunday morning. Michael Gizzi came into the ballgame to pinch-run for Lane, as Will Ray was at the plate with two outs. Ray ended the game on a ground out to third first baseman.
Four players combined for six hits for the Thundering Herd. Finfer and Lane both went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Finfer had one run scored. Cory Garrastazu and Hanon each had one hit.
Matt Reed made a relief appearance in the seventh inning. The redshirt junior tossed three innings and allowed one run on two hits. He had five strikeouts.
Marshall travels to Morehead State on Wednesday, April 26 at 5 p.m.
