Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Old Dominion
@HerdBaseball Falls on Saturday at Old Dominion
4/29/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
NORFOLK, Va. - The Marshall baseball team suffered a 16-1 loss in game two of its three game series at Old Dominion on Saturday afternoon at Bud Metheny Complex.
The contest was called in the bottom of the seventh after Old Dominion scored four runs, forcing the Conference USA's 15-run mercy-rule for Saturday games. The Thundering Herd drops to 20-23 (8-12 C-USA). Starting pitcher Jacob Niggemeyer (2-3) earned the loss. The Monarchs move to 30-12 (14-6 C-USA). ODU's starting pitcher Adam Bainbridge (7-1) picked up the win by throwing all seven innings.
Old Dominion opened the bottom half of the first inning with four consecutive singles. Zach Rutherford hit a single to the shortstop that scored Kyle Battle from third. In the following at-bat, Vinnie Pasquantino singled to left field that scored Jared Young. Marshall got out of the inning after turning a double play. It was the Herd's 43rd turned double play of the season.
The Monarchs doubled their lead in the second. Will Morgan was walked to lead off the inning. Kyle Beam cleared the bases with a two-run homer to left-center field.
Marshall scored its lone run in the top of the third inning. Tucker Linder led off with a single to center field. He was out on the next play as Matt Harrison hit into a fielder's choice. Harrison advanced to second on a Bainbridge balk. Leo Valenti added a second runner for the Herd after he was walked. After a Cory Garrastazu pop up, Tyler Ratliff hit a RBI single to center field that scored Harrison. It was the first earned run that Bainbridge has allowed at home since March 17 against Rice.
Old Dominion used extra-base hits in the fourth to put up three runs. Once again Morgan led off the frame with a walk. Turner Bishop followed with a double to right field that scored Morgan. Later in the inning, Kyle Battle hit a 2-run homer to left field.
The Monarchs took a double-digit lead with a five-run sixth inning. Rutherford had a two RBI double to left center, while Nick Walker hit a two RBI single to left field. Morgan drove in the fifth run with a sacrifice fly to left field.
ODU closed out the game with a four-run seventh inning. The Monarchs scored off three doubles and a groundout.
Andrew Zban led the Herd at the plate by going 2-for-2 with two infield singles. He reached base safely three times as he was hit by a pitch. Ratliff and Linder each had a hit.
Freshmen Hunter Sexton and Mark Meyer made relief appearances on the mound. Sexton only went one-third of an inning, while Meyer tossed one and one-third of an inning.
Marshall and ODU are set to play the final game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be aired on ESPN3.
